There are many musical instruments in India. Some instruments are used primarily in north Indian music (Hindustani sangeet), some are used in the south Indian music (Carnatic sangeet), while others are found in folk music. Instrumental music is usually similar to vocal music but sometimes there are distinctive instrumental styles.
There is a traditional system for the classification of instruments. This system is based upon; non-membranous percussion (ghan), membranous percussion (avanaddh), wind blown (sushir), plucked string (tat), bowed string (vitat). In addition to these traditional five classes we have been forced to create a sixth class to accommodate purely electronic instruments.
Non-Membranous Percussive (Ghan)
This is one of the oldest classes of instruments in India. This class is based upon percussive instruments which do not have membranes, specifically those which have solid resonators. These may be either melodic instruments or instruments to keep tal.
Andelu – Small brass pellet bells from southern IndiaChimpta – A metallic clapper from PunjabGhatam – A musical earthen-ware potGhungharu – Brass pellet bellsGogona – A jaw-harp of Assam (plucked idiophone)Gol Kathi – A dancing stickJal Tarang – Musical bowlsKartal – Wooden clappersKasht Tarang – A wooden xylophoneManjira – Small brass cymbalsMurchang – A metallic jaw harp of South India (plucked idiophone)Nout – A musical pot of Kashmir
Blown Air (Sushir)
This class of instrument is characterised by the use of air to excite the various resonators.
Algoza – A pair of fipple flutes of North India and PakistanBansuri – A bamboo/ reed flute 1) Overview 2) Parts 3) TechniqueBombashi – A fipple flute of BangladeshHarmonium – A reed organMukhavina – A small version of the NadaswaramNadaswaram – A large double-reed oboe of Southern IndiaOttu – A drone instrument of South IndiaPepa – A hornpipe of AssamPungi – A snake charmers instrumentShankh – A musical conchShehnai – A double reed oboe of North IndiaSurpeti – A drone instrumentTarpa – A large tribal hornpipe
Plucked Stringed Instruments (Tat)
This class of instruments is characterised by plucked strings. In ancient times virtually all instruments of this class were referred to as vina.
This is a class of stringed instruments which are bowed. This class appears to be quite old, yet these instruments did not occupy a place in classical music until the last few centuries. The entire class of instruments has a certain stigma attached to it. Even today only the Western violin is free of this stigma.
Readers who are interested in the subject should also read the section “Rosin“.
This is a class of instruments which are electronic in their operation.
Surpeti – A drone instrumentLahera Peti – An electronic device which plays the lahera / naghmaTabla Peti – An electronic device which plays the thekaMridangam Peti – An electronic device that gives mridangam accompaniment
