Instruments India
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Explore the fascinating genre of Indian music through our archive of images, sounds and videos. Instruments India is a rich and varied resource, and you can discover the background of each instrument, how it is played, and the type of setting it is normally played in.
If you are a beginner, student, expert or music lover, you can now enjoy a preview to a performance, find out more about a concert you have just seen, or get some background information on instruments in different settings.
Instruments India is the result of a partnership between MILAP and LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY.
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Bansuri
The bansuri is a flute made of a single hollow shaft of bamboo.
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Carnatic Vocal (Female)
The voice, and singing, are very important in Indian classical music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-dilruba-01-300x300.jpg)
Dilruba
The dilruba or Esraj is a string instrument found in certain northern and western states of India.
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E-Tanpura
An e-tanpura are often used in concert by many performers as a substitute for tanpura performers.
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Ghatam
The ghatam is an ancient percussion instrument in used Carnatic classical music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-ghungroo-01-300x300.jpg)
Ghungroo
Gunghroo comprises of several small metallic bells that are strung together and tied around the feet of dancers.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-harmonium-01-300x300.jpg)
Harmonium
The harmonium is an instrument that has its origins in the period of British rule in India.
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Hindustani Vocal (Male)
The voice, and singing, are very important in Indian classical music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-kanjira-01-300x300.jpg)
Kanjira
The kanjira is a small handheld drum that resembles a tambourine.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-konnakol-01-300x300.jpg)
Konnakol
Konnakol is the art of recitation of ‘solkattu’ which are the vocal syllables of the mridangam.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-mandolin-01-300x300.jpg)
Mandolin
The Mandolin has got four pairs of strings ( 8 strings).
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-morsing-01-300x300.jpg)
Morsing
The morsing is a Carnatic percussion instrument. It is a tiny instrument held in the left hand.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-mridangam-01-300x300.jpg)
Mridangam
The mridangam can be traced back to ancient Indian mythology.
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Nadaswaram
The nadaswaram is a wind instrument made of wood and metal that is found in both classical and folk traditions in South India.
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Sangu
The sangu is a conch shell primarily used in religious music of Hinduism and Buddhism.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-santoor-01-300x300.jpg)
Santoor
The Santoor’s name comes from the name Shata- tantric, meaning a Veena of hundred strings.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-sarangi-01-300x300.jpg)
Sarangi
The Sarangi is a fretless, bowed string instrument used in Hindustani classical music and folk traditions of north India.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-sarod-01-300x300.jpg)
Sarod
The sarod is a lute like instrument that has connections with the lute like instruments of the Christian era
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Sitar
The sitar, a stringed instrument played by plucking, is one of the most well known Indian musical instruments.
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Sursrinagar
The sursringar is a rare string instrument that is used as a Hindustani solo instrument.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-swarmandel-01-300x300.jpg)
Swarmandal
The swarmandal is a harp like instrument that is most commonly used as an accompaniment to Hindustani vocal music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-tabla-01-300x300.jpg)
Tabla
The tabla is the percussion instrument most commonly used in north Indian classical music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-tampura-01-300x300.jpg)
Tanpura
The tanpura is an instrument that acts as the reference chord in Indian classical music.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-tarshennai-01-300x300.jpg)
Tar Shenai
The Tar Shehnai is an esraj (bowed string instrument) with an added mechanical amplifier.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-thavil-01-300x300.jpg)
Thavil
The thavil is a percussion instrument used for accompanying the nadaswaram
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-uddukai-01-300x300.jpg)
Udukkai
The udukkai is an hourglass shaped, membranous drum used in devotional and folk music throughout India.
Veena
The veena is among the oldest of Indian musical instruments.
![](https://milapfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/milap-instruments-india-violin-01-300x300.jpg)
Violin
The violin used in Indian classical music is similar to the one used in Western classical traditions.