Sarangi, Santoor, Dilruba, Harmonium, Tamboura

Indian Instruments

Dilruba

Harmonium

Harmonium/Peti In Marathi language this instrument is also called as "Peti". This particular instrument is that self made instrument that it does not necessarily require other instruments "Saath" - company, The notes of Harmonium are very much similar to that of an organ, or a keyboard.

tamboura (tambura)

Also spelled Tambura, long-necked, fret less lute that supplies a drone accompaniment in Indian music. Resembling the tambour, the Middle Eastern lute from which it derives, it usually has four metal strings tuned (relative pitch) c-c'-c'-g or c-c'-c'-f.

Precision tuning is achieved by inserting bits of wool or silk between the strings and lower bridge and by adjusting small beads attached to the strings. The tamboura is essential to provide a tonal framework within which a singer or instrumental soloist develops the raga, or melodic mode.

Sitar

Sitar is the most popular stringed instrument of India and has been in use for about 700 years. It is fashioned from a seasoned gourd and teakwood and has twenty mental frets with six or seven playing strings and nineteen sympathetic strings below.

It is played with a plectrum worn on the finger. Sitar has a long and complex heritage; its origin goes back to the ancient Veena. In the 13th century, Amir Khusru, in order to make the instrument more flexible, reversed the order of the strings and made the frets moveable. Ravi Shankar, the great musician-artist brought changes and a new perspective.

Sarod

Sarod is another popular stringed instrument. The body is carved from a single piece of well-seasoned teakwood and the belly covered with goat skin. There are four main strings, six rhythm and drone strings and fifteen sympathetic strings, all made of metal. These are played by striking with a plectrum made of a coconut shell.

The Sarod has no frets. Sarod as been found in carvings of the 1st century in Champa temple and also in paintings in the Ajanta caves. It also has a similarity with the Rabab of Afghanistan and Kashmir. The instrument was modified by Amir Khusru in the 13th century. A definite change was made by Ustd. Ali Akbar Khan in shape of the instrument for improving the tonal quality.

Sarangi

The name derives from Sau Rangi meaning 100 colours. Sarangi is played with a bow and has four main strings and as many as forty resonant strings.

It is generally used to accompany singers but can also be a solo instrument.

Tanpura

Tanpura is a four or five stringed instrument which gives the essential drone background to all Indian music.

Santoor
Santoor

Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from Kashmir. It has more than a hundred strings which run across a hollow rectangular box and the strings are struck by a pair of slim carved walnut mallets.

PS: This is to inform the visitors that detailed information about Indian Musical instruments can be obtained through us, Kindly E-mail Us for your request.

( Indian Instruments II )