Indian Musical Instruments

India's rich diversity in cultures, traditions, religions and languages also extends to its richness in musical instruments. Indian musical instruments have evolved over centuries to the present day instruments that can produce varied pitch and a range of octaves. Many of these instruments can be used in a solo concert or used to accompany vocal concerts like the Carnatic or Hindustani music concerts. They can also be classified as being used in classical, western or folk music.

Types of Indian Musical Instruments

They can be classified into three main groups : string instruments, wind instruments and percussion instruments.

Percussion Instruments produce sound when they are struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, sending the instrument into a state of vibration. Tabla, Mridangam, Chenda, Ghatam, Dhol are some of the popular percussion instruments.

String Instruments are either plucked, bowed or hammered. Sitar, Violin, Sarod, Santoor, Sarangi, Dilruba, Esraj, Veena, Tanpura are all stringed instruments.

Wind Instruments have some type of tubular resonator in which the player blows air into a column and create vibrations. Shehnai, Harmonium, Flute and Nagaswara are the significant wind instruments.