Indian Instruments
Membranous | | | This instrument is Indian equivalent of the African instrument Djembe. It has membrane on only one side and has a typical torch shaped body. It is used for accompanying certain folk dances. | |
| | | Dumroo is probably the oldest form of percussion instrument in India. It is the only remaining form of hour-glass drums which are so commonly seen in ancient Indian statues. Its musical role is minimal and it is most commonly known for its association with Lord Shiva and monkey charmers. It is historically important in that it is considered the forefather of all two sided membranous instruments. | |
Non-Membranous Percussion Instruments
| | | Ghunghroo has its roots in traditional Indian ornament Payal, which was and is still worn on ankles by ladies, mostly to indicate their presence, or declare their arrival. This was eventually picked up by Kathak dancers to accentuate their dance steps. The traditional form of Ghunghroo has bells woven on a series of strings, but the contemporary models have bells attached to cushioned pads (indicated in illustration). These provide more comform to the dancers. | | | |
| | | Kartal is a pair of wooden blocks with brass jingles. One block has a circular hole where the thumbs fits, and the other has a larger opening for the remaining four fingers. These two are struck to produce a characteristic wooden sound with metal overtones. Although it is seen being used in some folk music forms, Kartal is traditionally used to accompany devotional music like Bhajan and Kirtan. In North-east India, a form of Manjeera is known as Kartal, and is entirely different from the one explained above. | |
Wind Instruments (Sushir)
| | | Been is a flute like wind instrument made with wood and Gourd. It has three sounding pipes, out of which only one has holes though with notes are controlled. The other two pipes provide the drone. It is not a classical
| | | Dumroo is probably the oldest form of percussion instrument in India. It is the only remaining form of hour-glass drums which are so commonly seen in ancient Indian statues. Its musical role is minimal and it is most commonly known for its association with Lord Shiva and monkey charmers. It is historically important in that it is considered the forefather of all two sided membranous instruments. | |
Non-Membranous Percussion Instruments
| | | Ghunghroo has its roots in traditional Indian ornament Payal, which was and is still worn on ankles by ladies, mostly to indicate their presence, or declare their arrival. This was eventually picked up by Kathak dancers to accentuate their dance steps. The traditional form of Ghunghroo has bells woven on a series of strings, but the contemporary models have bells attached to cushioned pads (indicated in illustration). These provide more comform to the dancers. | | | |
| | | Kartal is a pair of wooden blocks with brass jingles. One block has a circular hole where the thumbs fits, and the other has a larger opening for the remaining four fingers. These two are struck to produce a characteristic wooden sound with metal overtones. Although it is seen being used in some folk music forms, Kartal is traditionally used to accompany devotional music like Bhajan and Kirtan. In North-east India, a form of Manjeera is known as Kartal, and is entirely different from the one explained above. | |
Wind Instruments (Sushir)
| | | Been is a flute like wind instrument made with wood and Gourd. It has three sounding pipes, out of which only one has holes though with notes are controlled. The other two pipes provide the drone. It is not a classical