Musical Instruments

Now we come to the instrumental dimension of Indian music.

If raga is the soul and tala is the rhythm, then instruments are the vehicles through which this inner vibration becomes audible.

Indian tradition classifies musical instruments into four major categories. This classification is ancient and appears in texts like the Natya Shastra. It is not arbitrary — it is based on the principle of sound production.

Let us understand this.

Classification of Musical Instruments

Indian music divides instruments into four types:

Tata Vadyas (String instruments)
Avanaddhya Vadyas (Percussion instruments with membrane)
Ghana Vadyas (Solid or idiophone instruments)
Sushir Vadyas (Wind instruments)

This classification is based on how sound is produced.

1. Tata Vadyas (String Instruments / Chordophones)

These are instruments where sound is produced by vibrating strings.

They are of two main types:

Plucked (with fingers or plectrum)
Bowed (with a bow)

Examples → Sitar (plucked); Sarangi (bowed)

2. Avanaddhya Vadyas (Membranophones)

“Avanaddhya” means “to be covered.” These are drums where a leather membrane covers a hollow body. They are primarily used for rhythm.
According to Indian tradition: All drums originated from the damru of Lord Shiva.
Examples → Tabla, Mridangam, Pakhawaj

3. Ghana Vadyas (Idiophones)

These are solid instruments. Sound is produced by → Striking, Shaking, Scraping
They do not require tuning and cannot produce precise melodic pitches. Hence, they are used mainly for rhythmic support.
They are considered the earliest instruments used by humans.
Examples → Manjira, Ghatam, Kartal

4. Sushir Vadyas (Wind Instruments)

These produce sound through air vibration. They may be → Mouth-blown, Bellows-blown
Examples → Flute, Shehnai, Trumpet, Bugle
In India, flutes are traditionally made from bamboo.

Important String Instruments

Let us now examine major string instruments individually.

1. Sitar

Plucked string instrument; Long neck; Seven strings (5 steel, 2 brass)
Mainly used in Hindustani music

It played a major role in introducing Indian classical music to the West.

Most famous exponent → Ravi Shankar

2. Sarod

Believed to have evolved from the Afghan Rebab
Fretless; Deep, resonant tone

Famous exponent → Amjad Ali Khan

3. Veena (Saraswati Veena)

One of the oldest instruments mentioned in Vedic texts
Primarily used in Carnatic music; Popular in South India
Considered counterpart of Sitar in the South

It is culturally associated with Goddess Saraswati.

4. Santoor

Folk instrument of Kashmir; Used in Sufiana Kalam
Trapezoid-shaped; Played with lightweight wooden hammers (mezrab)

Believed to be related to ancient Shatatantri Veena.

5. Tambura (Tanpura)

Long-necked instrument; Usually 4 or 5 strings
Provides harmonic drone
Essential in both Hindustani and Carnatic music
In North India → Made of dry gourd
In South India → Made of wood

Tambura does not play melody — it sustains the tonal base (Sa).

6. Sarangi

Bowed string instrument
Considered closest to human voice
Powerful accompanying instrument in Hindustani music

Its tonal depth makes it ideal for vocal accompaniment.

7. Dilruba

Combination of Sitar and Sarangi
Has frets like Sitar; Skin-covered belly like Sarangi
Played with bow

Common in Sikh devotional music

8. Gottu Vadyam (Chitra Veena)

Also known as Chitra Veena or Maha Nataka Veena

Important Carnatic concert instrument
Similar to Veena, but unlike Veena, it has no frets
Like the tambura, it is supported at the neck and has four strings.

9. Rabab

National instrument of Arabs which reached India via the Middle East
Popular in Kashmir; Flourished during Mughal period

Associated with Guru Nanak’s companion Bhai Mardana

In Tansen’s lineage:

Rababiyas (used Rabab)
Binkars (used Veena)

Percussion Instruments (Avanaddhya Vadyas)

These are instruments where sound is produced by striking a stretched membrane.

1. Tabla

The most iconic percussion instrument of Hindustani music.
It consists of two drums:
- Dayan → Smaller drum (played with dominant hand)
- Bayan → Larger drum (played with non-dominant hand)
Used in → Hindustani classical, Devotional music, Ghazal, Mehfils
Legendary exponent → Zakir Hussain
Tabla allows intricate rhythmic improvisation.

2. Mridangam

Primary percussion instrument of Carnatic music.
Meaning → “Body of clay” (Mrid + Anga)

Barrel-shaped; Double-headed
Central to Carnatic rhythm
In Bengal, a smaller variant is called → Khol or Srikhol

3. Damru

Hourglass-shaped
Associated with Shiva Nataraja; Symbol of cosmic rhythm

Indian tradition holds that all drums originated from Shiva’s damru.

4. Dholak / Dhol / Dhak

Two-headed hand drum
Used in folk and Bollywood music

Variations:

Dhol → Smaller, popular in North India
Dhak → Larger, used during Durga Puja in Bengal
Dholkee → Smaller, often used by women

Played:

Suspended from neck; On lap; On ground

5. Pakhawaj

Barrel-shaped drum
Used in Dhrupad singing; Popular in North India

It predates the tabla and has a deeper, majestic tone.

6. Chenda

Cylindrical drum
Popular in Kerala; Used in Thrissur Pooram, Kathakali, Koodiyattam

It produces powerful, high-volume sound.

7. Tavil

Barrel-shaped
Used in Tamil Nadu; Traditionally accompanies Nadasvaram

8. Nagara (Naqqara)

Kettle drum
Used in temples and processions; One of the oldest percussion instruments

Two drums:

Madi (female) → higher pitch
Nar (male) → lower pitch

9. Khanjira

Frame drum; Supporting instrument in Carnatic music
One of the oldest folk instruments

Idiophone Instruments (Ghana Vadyas)

These produce sound through the vibration of the solid body.

1. Manjira (Taal)

Small brass cymbals
Used in bhajans and devotional songs

2. Khartal

Means: “Rhythm of the hands”

Wooden clapper | Used in folk and devotional music

3. Chimta

Pair of metal tongs with jingles
Popular in Punjab; Used in bhajans and folk songs

4. Morchang (Morsing)

Metal instrument with vibrating tongue
Secondary rhythmic instrument; Used in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions

5. Jaltarang

Set of porcelain bowls filled with water
Struck with bamboo sticks; Pitch varies with water quantity

Unique melodic idiophone.

6. Ghatam

Earthen pot instrument | Played with bare hands | Used in both classical and folk music

Also known as → Matki, Gagri, Noot

Wind Instruments (Sushir Vadyas)

Sound is produced by air vibration.

1. Bansuri / Venu

Bamboo flute;
Mentioned in Vedic texts | Found in sculptures of Sanchi & Amaravati | Seen in Ajanta paintings

Closely associated with Lord Krishna

Two main types:

Bansuri (North, 6 holes)
Venu (South, 8 holes)

2. Nadasvaram

Ancient Tamil instrument; Longer than Shehnai
Considered auspicious; Used in temples and weddings

3. Magudi (Pungi / Been)

Traditionally played by snake charmers
Also called Bhujanga Swaram

4. Shringa / Kombu

Horn instrument
Shringa (North); Kombu (South)

5. Shehnai

Tube-like wind instrument; Played at weddings and religious events

Legendary exponent → Bismillah Khan

6. Harmonium

Reed-based keyboard instrument
Brought by Westerners; Hand-pumped version developed in India

Invented (foot-pumped version) in Paris in 1842.
Widely used in → Bhajans, Ghazals, Classical accompaniment

Western Instruments in Indian Music

Indian music incorporated Violin, Guitar, Clarinet, Mandolin
Violin is now indispensable in Carnatic concerts.