indian musical instruments

Sitar:

• Plucked string instrument with movable frets.

• Known for its resonating sound due to sympathetic strings.

• Famous player: Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Veena:

• Ancient string instrument.

• Associated with goddess Saraswati.

• Variations: Rudra Veena, Saraswati Veena.

Sarod:

• Lute-like string instrument, no frets.

• Produces a deep and meditative sound.

• Played using a plectrum.

• Bansuri:

  • Bamboo flute with six or seven holes.

  • Linked to Lord Krishna and pastoral music.

  • Famous artist: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Shehnai:

• Wind instrument, a symbol of auspiciousness.

• Modified from the pungi.

• Maestro: Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Tabla:

• Set of two hand-played drums (Dayan and Bayan).

• Key instrument for rhythm in Hindustani music.

• Known virtuoso: Ustad Zakir Hussain.

• Mridangam:

  • South Indian double-headed drum.

  • Central in Carnatic music.

Pakhawaj:

• Barrel-shaped percussion instrument.

• Used in Dhrupad music.

• Tanpura:

  • Drone instrument with four to six strings.

  • Provides the tonic note for vocalists or instrumentalists.

Ghatam:

• Percussion instrument made of clay.

• Played with fingers and palms.

• Manjira:

  • Small cymbals used in devotional music.

  • Produces a high-pitched metallic sound.

Santoor:

• Trapezoidal string instrument played with mallets.

• Prominent in Kashmiri folk music.