What are examples of Indian Musical Instruments?

Question

Can anyone give me examples of Indian Musical Instruments? If you can, please provide a link of where you got it. I'm still searching the web and from my encyclopedia books.

Answer 1

Do you mean Indian or Native American??

Cuz off the top of my head the sitar comes to mind if you mean "from India" and like buffalo skin drums and gourd maracas if you mean "native american"

Answer 2

The Sitar is one of my favorite instruments. If  you want to hear what one sounds like, basically just listen to any song that George Harrison wrote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar

Answer 3

One of them is sitar, another one is guitar!

Answer 4

i know there is alot of carnatic music centering around the violin

Answer 5

Indian music is divided into two categories: North Indian (also known as Hindustani) and South Indian (also known as Carnatic). The instruments also fall into this categorization. N.B. Some links don't have pictures, but the names will make it easier for netsearches and such.

-Hindustani Instruments-

Sitar

The sitar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar) is the main instrument of North Indian music. It is a plucked string instrument resembling a lute in shape, with sympathetic strings to amplify the sound. It was popularized in the West by sitar master Ravi Shankar, who also influenced the Beatles. George Harrison took lessons from this guy.

Sarod

Another lute, the sarod (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarod) is probably the second most popular instrument in Hindustani music. Believed to be of Persian descent origin.

Sarangi

This is an Indian fiddle (actually a bowed lute). Its name means '100 colours'.

Tabla

The main drum of the Hindustani music is the tabla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabla), and is a pair of hand drums played sitting on the floor. The black spot in the middle of each drum is made with ink and metal filings (if I remember correctly) and various techniques of the hands can contribute to a large variety of sounds.

-Carnatic Instruments-

Veena

The main melodic instrument of Carnatic music, and the counterpart to the sitar, is the veena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veena). Looks similar to the sitar, but doesn't have sympathetic strings, and is bigger and heavier. Unlike the sitar, the veena is made of wood (the body of the sitar is made of dried pumpkin shell and is VERY fragile).

Mridangam

The mridangam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mridangam) is the main drum of Carnatic music, and is a single two-headed drum, placed on the player's lap and played with both hands.

Ghatam

The ghatam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghatam) is another 'drum' in Carnatic music. It is actually an earthenware pot, also played with the hands.

Ganjeera

The ganjeera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanjira) is a tambourine used in Carnatic music.

Violin

Yes, the violin is also used in Carnatic music, albeit not in the way we know it.

-Both Hindustani and Carnatic-

Tambura

The tambura (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambura) is a type of drone lute. I think of it as the bass guitar of Indian music.

Harmonium

The harmonium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonium) is used in Indian music, but is not widely accepted among some circles because it cannot execute the nuances of pitch which is an integral part of Indian music.