Mapping India's Folk Music Instruments

List of Folk Music Instruments of India

Indian folk music is a type of music that is indigenous to the country of India. It is typically played on folk instruments, which can vary from region to region.

More about Traditional Indian Instruments:

In North India, the most common folk instruments are the dhol, the sarangi,  the sitar, the sarod, shehnai, and the tabla. The dhol is a two-headed drum that is played with both hands. The sarangi is a bowed string instrument that has three strings and is played with a bow. The tabla is a percussion instrument that consists of two small drums - one made of wood and the other made of metal. The sitar is a stringed instrument that has been popular in Indian music for centuries. The sarod is another stringed instrument, similar to the sitar, but with a much mellower sound. And the shehnai is a woodwind instrument that has a very distinct sound.

In South India, the most popular folk instruments are the mridangam, the gottuvadyam, and the veena. The mridangam is a percussion instrument that is made out of two pieces of wood. The gottuvadyam is a stringed instrument that has six strings and is played with a plectrum. The veena is a stringed instrument that has 21 strings and is played with both hands.

In addition to these instruments, there are also a number of folk dances that are popular in India. One of the most famous is the bhangra, which is danced to the beat of the tabla. And another popular dance is the kathak, which features intricate footwork and is accompanied by classical Indian string instruments like the sitar and the sarod. We will talk about the folk dances of India in another post.

String instruments are hugely important in Indian music, and there are a few different kinds that you should know about. Arguably, the most famous Indian folk instrument is the sitar. This string instrument has a long neck and a large, pear-shaped body. The strings are plucked with the fingers, and the sound is mellow and delicate. Here’s musician depicted playing the Sitar in this Kalighat painting.  

There is one musical instrument that stands apart from all the others in Indian folk music. The most ancient musical instrument of India is the veena. The veena is s a plucked string instrument that's usually played solo, while the rudra veena is a bowed string instrument that's mainly used in Hindustani classical music. This string instrument has been around for over two thousand years and is still played today. It has a beautiful, ethereal sound that is perfect for classical Indian music. 

There are two kinds of string instruments in Indian music—the veena and the sitar. The sitar is probably the most famous Indian instrument. This string instrument has a long neck and a large, pear-shaped body. The strings are plucked with the fingers, and the sound is mellow and delicate. Here’s musician depicted playing the Sitar in this Kalighat painting. It has a more dramatic sound and is often used in folk and Bollywood music. The sitar was popularized by musician Ravi Shankar, who helped to introduce it to the Western world.

There are a number of percussion instruments that are used in Indian folk music. The most famous is the tabla, a pair of drums that are used to create a wide range of rhythms. Another common percussion instrument is the dholak, a two-headed drum that's often used in folk dance.

Another important percussion instrument is the mridangam, a cylindrical drum that has two heads and is played with both hands. It's often used in classical Indian music, and is considered to be the most difficult percussion instrument to play.

Each Indian folk instrument has a distinctive sound that can conjure up images of rural India and its many different cultures. So if you're interested in Indian music, be sure to check out the different styles of folk music and hear the beautiful sounds of its traditional instruments. And if you are interested in practicing and protecting the cultural heritage of India, click here to take a class with us.

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