List of Indian musical instruments

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Lady playing pulluvan veena

Indian musical instruments can be broadly classified according to the Hornbostel–Sachs system into four categories: chordophones (string instruments), aerophones (wind instruments), membranophones (drums) and idiophones (non-drum percussion instruments).

Chordophones[]

Plucked strings[]

Bowed strings[]

Tribal fiddle instruments called "Dhodro Banam" used by Santhal people in Eastern India.

• Chikara
• Dhantara
• Dilruba
• Ektara violin
• Esraj
• Kamaicha
• Kingri (string instrument)
• Mayuri Vina or Taus
• Onavillu
• Behala (violin type)
• Pena (musical instrument)
• Pinaka vina
• Pulluvan Veena - one stringed violin
• Ravanahatha
• Sarangi
• Classical Sarangi
• Sarinda
• Tar Shehnai
• Villu Paatu - arched bow instrument

+ Behala - Bengal Murshidabad Violin Persian "Behaaleh" (Restless)

Other string instruments[]

• Gethu or Jhallari - struck tanpura
• Gubguba or Jamuku (khamak)
• Pulluvan kutam
• Santoor - Hammered dulcimer

Aerophones[]

Single reed[]

• Pepa
• Pungi or Been

Snake charmer playing pungi

Bansuri player at Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur.

Indian Harmonium

Double reed[]

• Kuzhal
• Nadaswaram
• Shehnai
• Sundari
• Tangmuri

Flute[]

• Alghoza - double flute
• Bansuri
• Venu (Carnatic flute) Pullanguzhal

Bagpipes[]

• Mashak
• Titti
• Sruti upanga

Free reed[]

• Gogona
• Morsing

Free reed and bellows[]

• Shruti box
• Harmonium (hand-pumped)

Brass[]

• Bigul - see Bugle
• Ekkalam
• Karnal
• Kombu (instrument)
• Ramsinga
• Kahal
• Turi

Membranophones[]

Hand drums[]

Learning to play tabla

Tumbaknaer, drum from Jammu and Kashmir for accompanying devotionals

Chenda (top) and Chande (below) are different drums

Chande of Yakshagana

Hand frame drums[]

• Daf, duf, or dafli - medium or large frame drum without jingles, of Persian origin
• Dubki, dimdi or dimri - small frame drum without jingles
• Kanjira - small frame drum with one jingle
• Kansi - small drum without jingles
• Patayani thappu - medium frame drum played with hands

Stick and hand drums[]

• Chenda
• Davul
• Dhak
• Dhimay
• Dhol
• Dholi
• Dollu
• Idakka
• Thavil
• Udukai
• Urumi (drum)

Stick drums[]

• Chande
• Davul
• Nagara - pair of kettledrums
• Pambai - unit of two cylindrical drums
• Parai thappu, halgi - frame drum played with two sticks
• Sambal
• Stick daff or stick duff - daff in a stand played with sticks
• Tamak'
• Tasha - type of kettledrum
• Timki
• Urumee

Idiophones[]

Jaltarang

A medieval instrument, labeled nagaveena (snake veena), is a type of musical scraper.

• - fire tong with brass jingles
• Chengila - metal disc
• - brass vessel
• - Northern Indian bell
• Ghatam and Matkam (Earthenware pot drum)
• Khartal or Chiplya
• or jhanj or taal
• - clay pot
• - lithophone
• Thali - metal plate
• Thattukanvjzhi mannai

Melodic[]

• Jal tarang, ceramic bowls with water
• Kanch tarang, a type of glass harp
• Kashtha tarang, a type of xylophone

Hand harmonium[]

Dwarkanath Ghose (Dwarkin) modified the French pedal harmonium.

Electronic[]

• Roland HandSonic
• Electronic tanpura
• Electronic (digital) tabla
• Talameter

See also[]

• Music of India
• List of Indian dances

References[]