List of Indian musical instruments

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


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[edit]

Plucked strings[edit]

Bowed strings[edit]

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

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

Other string instruments[edit]

Aerophones[edit]

Single reed[edit]

Snake charmer playing pungi
Bansuri player at Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur.
Indian Harmonium

Double reed[edit]

Flute[edit]

Bagpipes[edit]

Free reed[edit]

Free reed and bellows[edit]

Brass[edit]

Membranophones[edit]

Hand drums[edit]

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[edit]

  • Daff, duff, daf or duf - 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[edit]

Stick drums[edit]

Idiophones[edit]

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

Melodic[edit]

Electronic[edit]

Sound samples[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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