Indian musical instruments

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Indian musical instruments can be broadly classified into three categories, namely classical, western and folk. See Carnatic music and Hindustani music. They are discussed im detail by Dr. Lalmani Misra in his book, Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya.

The instruments are further sub-classified into the type based on the science behind the same.

Contents 1 String 1.1 Plucked 1.2 Bowed 2 Wind 2.1 Flute 2.2 Single reed 2.3 Double reed 2.4 Free reed 3 Percussion 3.1 Drums 3.2 Other 4 Other 5 External links

[edit] String

[edit] Plucked

• Ektara
• Gottuvadhyam (also called Chitravina)
• Sarod
• Sitar
• Surbahar
• Swarmandel
• Tanpura
• Veena
  • Mohan veena
  • Rudra Veena
  • Saraswati veena
  • Vichitra Veena
• Bela Bahar worlds first and only instrument.A combination of Sarod,Voilin & Santoor.
• Mikrab

Simborr This is the plectrum made of steel or brass which is worn on the right hand index finger. When the plectrum plays on the strings, it produces vibrations which causes different notes. When the plectrum touches the first string, the sound produced is of D and on the second is that of R. Some sitars have ab extra toomba (gourd) at the end of the neck or midway. The sitar is played with the following gat (sequences): (a) Alaap: It corresponds to the vocal style of the raga. (b) Jor: This is the playing of the raga on the sitar in medium tempo after the alaap and without tal. (c) Jhala: Playing on the chikari strings in quick tempo which like D R R R - is called jhala. The first string gives the note of D, and the final chikari give the tone of R. (d) Asthai and Antra: Asthai is fixed composition of the raga. The antra is the compliment to the asthai. In the improvisation of the raga, after asthai and antra, meend (gliding) and jamjam/murki (trill) are played frequently. Tans are also played. Nowadays sitarists generally play in khayal style. Sometimes thumri style is also used. Like khayal singers, instrumentalists will play in drut laya (fast tempo). They will play a new asthai and antra, generally in teental and then improvise at a very fast tempo until the performance reaches an exciting climax. This section is called drut gat (fast composition) and is climaxed by a fast jhala piece. The sitar is very delicate instrument and as such it is to be kept and maintained with care and caution. The following points need to be noted: (a) The sitar should be kept covered, preferably in a cloth cover or a plastic bag. (b) The sitar should be kept lying on the floor, the frets facing upwards. It can also be kept standing in a corner. (c) The sitar should be cleaned frequently with a piece of soft cloth. (d) The strings should be periodically loosened so as to reduce the tension on them.

[edit] Bowed

• Esraj (also called dilruba)
• Sarangi
• Sarinda
• Rabab

This stringed instrument was used in Punjab, but Guru Nanak used it s an accompaniment for Gurumat Sangeet (Sikh sacred music). It was played by his disciple named Bhai Mardana (1459-1519) who originally was a mirasi (Muslim musician). It is similar to the rebec of Persia. The rabab has a piece of hollow wood at the top and a hollow circular wooden belly covered with a sheep skin at the bottom. There are two bridges, one in the middle and the other at the tip. The two bridges support six gut strings which are manipulated by six pegs at the top. Some rababs have a wooden toomba (gourd) at the top. It is played with a traingular wooden plectrum. Its sound resembles the human voice and it can play some gamaks. The effect of the drum-sound produced by it is very pleasing; it is eminently suitable for devotional music.

[edit] Wind

[edit] Flute

• Bansuri
• Pullanguzhal
• Venu (Carnatic flute)

[edit] Single reed

• Pungi or Been

[edit] Double reed

• Alghoza
• Kuzhal
• Nadaswaram
• Shehnai

[edit] Free reed

• Morsing

[edit] Percussion

[edit] Drums

• Chenda
• Dhol
• Dholak
• Idakka
• Kanjira
• Mizhavu
• Mridangam
• Pakhavaj
• Tabla
• Thavil
• Dhadh

It is small two-sided wooden drum. Some call it the damru. It is about 10 to 12 inches in length with a narrow waist in the middle. The parchments are held by cotton straps. It is held in the left hand and played with the right hand.

[edit] Other

• Ghatam
• Jal tarang - An set of tuned rice bowls tuned by filling with varying amounts of water

[edit] Other

• The violin is a popular western instrument used widely in Indian classical music, specifically Carnatic music.
• The harmonium is originally a western instrument, but is now more popular in India than in other countries.
• The sruti box is a drone instrument derived from the harmonium.
• The electronic keyboard is a popular western instrument popularized by Amrithavarshini Muralikrishnan to propagate Carnatic music.

There are numerous native musical instruments used in folk music.

See also Music of India.

[edit] External links

• Buy and review Indian musical instruments
• categorization of Indian Musical instruments
• Indian musical instruments
• Indian musical instruments web site
• Indian Musical Instruments Shops in India
• Musical instruments from India
• Online Music Education
• North Indian musical instruments
• all Indian classical music instruments with mp3 music samples
• Thavil Maestro - Haridwaramangalam Sri. A.K. Palanivel