Indian Musical Instruments

Key Pointers

Classification (from the Natyashastra):
- Tata/Chordophones (string): Veena, sitar, sarod, santoor, tanpura, sarangi, violin.
- Sushira/Aerophones (wind): Bansuri, shehnai, nadaswaram, pungi, shankh.
- Avanaddha/Membranophones (percussion with skin): Tabla, pakhawaj, mridangam, dholak, dhol, khol, chenda, damaru.
- Ghana/Idiophones (solid): Manjira, ghatam, kartal, jal tarang, ghungroo.
String instruments:
- Sitar: Associated with Amir Khusrau (tradition); Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan.
- Sarod: Amjad Ali Khan, Ali Akbar Khan; derived from the Afghan rabab.
- Santoor: Kashmir; Shivkumar Sharma.
- Veena: Saraswati veena (Carnatic); Rudra veena (Dhrupad); Vichitra veena; Mohan veena.
- Tanpura: Drone instrument.
Wind: Bansuri (Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pannalal Ghosh); Shehnai (Bismillah Khan); Nadaswaram (temple instrument of Tamil Nadu).
Percussion: Tabla (Ustad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain); Pakhawaj (accompanies Dhrupad); Mridangam (Carnatic); Ghatam (clay pot); Kanjira; Chenda (Kerala).
Gharanas of tabla: Delhi, Lucknow, Ajrada, Farrukhabad, Benaras, Punjab.

MCQs

Q1. The shehnai is associated with:
(a) Ravi Shankar
(b) Bismillah Khan
(c) Zakir Hussain
(d) Hariprasad Chaurasia
Answer: (b).

Q2. According to the Natyashastra, 'Ghana' instruments are:
(a) String
(b) Wind
(c) Skin-covered percussion
(d) Solid/non-membranous percussion
(idiophones)
Answer: (d).

Q3. The Pakhawaj is the main accompaniment for:
(a) Thumri
(b) Dhrupad
(c) Tillana
(d) Ghazal
Answer: (b).