🎵 Chapter 05 · Topic 03 · Classical Music

Indian Musical Instruments

Classification of Indian instruments: chordophones, aerophones, membranophones, and idiophones — with key exponents and exam facts.

🎸 Classification System (Hornbostel-Sachs)

Indian instruments are classified using the ancient Indian system (from Natyashastra) and the modern Hornbostel-Sachs system:

Tata Vadya (Chordophones) — stringed instruments; sound produced by vibrating strings
Sushira Vadya (Aerophones) — wind instruments; sound produced by vibrating air column
Avanaddha Vadya (Membranophones) — percussion instruments with membrane; sound by striking a stretched skin
Ghana Vadya (Idiophones) — solid instruments; sound produced by the instrument itself vibrating

Key Fact: The Natyashastra of Bharata Muni classifies instruments into four categories: Tata (stringed), Sushira (wind), Avanaddha (membrane percussion), and Ghana (solid/idiophone). This is the oldest known classification system for musical instruments.

🎸 Chordophones (Tata Vadya) — Stringed Instruments

Instrument	Type	Tradition	Key Exponents
Sitar	Plucked lute; 18–20 strings; movable frets	Hindustani	Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Nikhil Banerjee
Sarod	Plucked lute; no frets; metal fingerboard	Hindustani	Amjad Ali Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Allauddin Khan
Veena (Saraswati Veena)	Plucked lute; 4 main + 3 drone strings	Carnatic	M.S. Subbulakshmi, Balasaraswati, E. Gayathri
Rudra Veena	Plucked; two large gourds; ancient form	Hindustani (Dhrupad)	Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Asad Ali Khan
Sarangi	Bowed; 3 main + 35–40 sympathetic strings	Hindustani (accompaniment)	Ram Narayan, Sultan Khan
Violin	Bowed; Western origin; adapted to Indian music	Carnatic (accompaniment)	L. Subramaniam, N. Rajam
Santoor	Hammered dulcimer; 100 strings	Hindustani (Kashmir origin)	Shivkumar Sharma, Bhajan Sopori
Dilruba / Esraj	Bowed; fretted neck	Hindustani	Used in Sikh devotional music

🎺 Aerophones (Sushira Vadya) — Wind Instruments

Bansuri — bamboo transverse flute; 6–7 holes; associated with Lord Krishna; Hariprasad Chaurasia is the most celebrated exponent; used in Hindustani music
Shehnai — double-reed oboe; associated with auspicious occasions, temples, and weddings; Ustad Bismillah Khan is the most celebrated exponent; UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Nadaswaram (Nagaswaram)

Pungi (Been) — double-pipe wind instrument; used by snake charmers; associated with Rajasthan
Algoza — double flute; folk instrument of Rajasthan and Punjab
Shankhya (Conch shell) — blown in temples and during religious ceremonies; associated with Lord Vishnu
Murali — small flute; associated with Krishna

🥁 Membranophones (Avanaddha Vadya) — Percussion

Tabla — pair of drums (dayan + bayan); primary percussion in Hindustani music; credited to Amir Khusrau; Zakir Hussain, Allah Rakha are famous exponents
Mridangam — barrel-shaped double-headed drum; primary percussion in Carnatic music; Palghat Mani Iyer, Umayalpuram Sivaraman are famous exponents
Pakhawaj — barrel drum; accompanies dhrupad; predecessor of tabla; Gopal Das is a famous exponent
Dholak — cylindrical double-headed drum; folk music across North India
Dhol — large cylindrical drum; folk music of Punjab, Rajasthan; used in Bhangra
Nagara (Naqqara) — large kettledrum; used in temples and royal courts
Chenda — cylindrical drum; Kerala; used in Kathakali and temple festivals
Tavil (Thavil) — barrel drum; South India; accompanies nadaswaram

🔔 Idiophones (Ghana Vadya) — Solid Instruments

Manjira (Kartal) — small cymbals; used in bhajans, kirtans, and folk music across India
Ghungroo — ankle bells worn by classical dancers (Kathak, Bharatanatyam); also used in folk music
Ghatam — clay pot; Carnatic percussion; T.H. Vinayakram is a famous exponent
Morsing (Jew’s harp) — small metal instrument held in mouth; Carnatic percussion ensemble
Kanjira — small frame drum with a single jingle; Carnatic percussion
Chimta — fire tongs with jingles; used in Punjabi folk music

Key Fact: Ustad Bismillah Khan (Shehnai) and Ravi Shankar (Sitar) were both awarded the Bharat Ratna — India’s highest civilian honour. Zakir Hussain (Tabla) received the Padma Vibhushan. The Shehnai is associated with auspicious occasions and was played by Bismillah Khan at India’s first Independence Day.

✅ Four categories: Tata (stringed), Sushira (wind), Avanaddha (membrane), Ghana (idiophone)
✅ Sitar = Ravi Shankar; Sarod = Amjad Ali Khan / Ali Akbar Khan
✅ Bansuri = Hariprasad Chaurasia; associated with Krishna
✅ Shehnai = Bismillah Khan; auspicious occasions; Bharat Ratna
✅ Tabla = Zakir Hussain / Allah Rakha; Hindustani percussion
✅ Mridangam = Carnatic primary percussion; barrel-shaped
✅ Pakhawaj = dhrupad accompaniment; predecessor of tabla
✅ Ghatam = clay pot; Carnatic; T.H. Vinayakram