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15 Indian Musical Instruments You Need To Know

Indian Musical intruments
via Pinterest

India is a land of many cultures and art. Also, there are many Indian musical instruments many of the people in the country may not know about. India has always been a country where music and art played a very important role. As we Indians have always been proud of our culture.

Also, Indian classical music has various ragas and forms. Indian musical instruments have various instruments in existence. These instruments’ sounds are so sweet and melodic that you may even forgive your pain. Like there is a saying ” Music heals”, so it may actually help you heal.

In India music is divided into two streamlines which are Indian classical which can also be said as Hindustani music in North and the other is the Carnatic of South India. Both of them are unique in their own ways. Influenced by their cultures.

So, today I will help you find about 15 Indian musical instruments you must know about if you are into Indian music.

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15. Venu

Indian Musical Instruments

It is one of the Indian classical music’s antique transverse flutes. Venu is a side-blown wind instrument that is typically made of bamboo. It is used in the Carnatic music style of South India.

Also, Natya Shastra, a famous Hindu literature book on music and performance arts, mentions venu as an essential musical instrument. Also, Lord Krishna played venu. It is used by Carnatic musicians in South.

14. Kanjira

Indian Musical Instruments

South Indian frame drums kanjira or a khanjira is a tambourine instrument. Also, it was utilized in India throughout many centuries as a folk and bhajan instrument. For some reasons, including the complexity of the percussions employed in Indian music, the Kanjira is a somewhat difficult Indian drum to play.

Especially in South India’s Carnatic music. Usually played with the palm and right-hand fingers, while the left-hand holds the drum. Putting pressure on the outside rim, the left-hand fingertips are utilized to bend the pitch as no specific pitch is tuned for playing this.

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13. Rubab

Indian Musical instruments

The rubab is a stringed instrument. It can be curled or plugged according to the traditional performance using a skin reflector. It is widespread over North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and Central Asia in many forms. Though rubab may not have huge popularity, still many professionals still play this instrument.

12. Tambura

Indian Musical Instruments

The Tanpura or Tambura is a long-necked, Indian-born plucked string instrument. It does not play melody but rather supports another instrument or singer’s melody. The most determining factor in the sound of the exact plucking of a cycle of four strings is it plays into a continuous loop.

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11. Setar

Indian Musical Instruments

“Setar” word means “three strings”. It is a Persian traditional musical instrument, which later came to India and created its impact. A fourth string is introduced later in the instrument during the mid 19th century.

10. Sarangi

Indian Musical Instruments

Sarangi is a very beautiful Indian musical instrument, even from its classic look and its mesmerizingly happy vibe. The sound of sarangi resembles a human voice using movements like games and meend.

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9. Bansuri

Indian Musical Instruments

Bansuri is a very breathtaking instrument. Also, with 6 to 7 carved finger holes in a bamboo stick, it is one of the very prominent instruments used in Hindustani Classical music.

8. Shehnai

Shehnai

This instrument is very well known in the country. Also, it has got a huge recognition when it comes to marriage. It is a very popular instrument in India. Shehnai is played at weddings to celebrate the auspicious day.

7. Mridangam

Mridangam

Mridangam is a well-known Indian musical instrument in Southern India. The beats of Mridangam are very captivating. Also, the left side of Mridangam is bigger than the right side.

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6. Sarod

Sarod

Sarod has got a very sweet voice. We can majorly find Sarod in the northern parts and some southern parts of India. Made from wood, Sarod resembles Sitar. But, unlike Sarod, Sitar has frets.

5. Pakhawaj

Pakhawaj

Pakhawaj and Mridangam are very similar to each other in looks, but the tuning and musical notes vary. The instrument has the shape of a drum attached with ropes to adjust the tuning.

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4. Veena

Veena

Goddess Saraswati herself used to play the veena, according to Hindu Mythology. Veena is very prominent in the Southern parts of the country. It may have similarities with sitar, sarod, and star but totally is different from them in sound and notations.

3. Tabla

Tabla

The tabla is actually the performer playing two drums. Both drums have synthetic armour that can be used to create the many different tones that can produce with a scaling paste or siyahi. 

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2. Sitar

Sitar

Sitar is a world-renowned instrument straight coming from India. Those who don’t know, George Harrison from The Beatles personally came to India to learn Sitar from our very own Pt. Ravishankar Sahab. Also, it is very prominent in the country. The sound of sitar is something that can heal you.

1. Harmonium

Harmonium

Harmonium is one of the most traditional musical instruments in India. It is like a keyboard. Harmonium is an instrument that is played and learnt by every musician in the Indian states.

Also, whatever corner they may live in India, if they learn Indian classical music then harmonium is one of the things they learn at an early age to develop an understanding of music. One of the most used Indian musical instruments ever.