üflemeli

Üflemeli is a Turkish term used in musicology to denote wind instruments, i.e., instruments in which the sound is produced primarily by the player's breath. The word is derived from üflemek, meaning to blow or to puff. In Turkish usage, the category üflemeli çalgılar encompasses instruments from both the brass and woodwind families, unified by their dependence on air to excite the vibrating air column.

Sound production in üflemeli instruments varies by subtype. Brass instruments produce sound when the player buzzes the lips against a mouthpiece, actively shaping pitch with valves or slides. Woodwind instruments may rely on a reed or on edge-blown air, producing sound as the air column vibrates. Examples commonly found in Turkish contexts include trumpets, trombones and tubas; flutes such as the flüt and kaval; the ney; the clarinet (klarnet); and the saxophone (saksafon).

Culturally, üflemeli instruments are central to many Turkish musical traditions, from classical ottoman-influenced ensembles to folk bands and contemporary genres like jazz and pop. The term is primarily a cultural label within Turkish music for wind-based instruments rather than a single Western scientific category, and its exact scope can vary by context.