This document classifies and describes various traditional Indian musical instruments. It divides the instruments into three categories: membranes that are struck or tapped, wind instruments that are blown, and stringed instruments that are plucked. Some examples of instruments described include the tabla drum, bansuri flute, veena, sarod, and sitar. Each instrument entry provides details on materials, playing technique, and cultural context.

2. Classification of Musical
Instrument

3. This group of instruments consists of
stretched membranes that are struck or
tapped by the hand.

4. Tabla Pair
The tabla drum is a
pair of drums most
common and popular in
Northern India. It is
made of wood and has a
head made stretched
animal skin. Both drums
have a black spot at the
center that is made of
manganese and iron
dust. It is played by
tapping the fingers on
the surface of the drums.

5. Mridangam
The classical drum
of Southern India is
called mridangam. It
literally means clay-
body and was originally
made of clay. It is a
double-headed drum
that is barrel shaped. It
is played between the
thighs of the drum
players. This musical
instrument is used in
playing tala.

6. These instruments are played by
means of blowing air to excite the
resonators.

7. Bansuri
The flute is one of
the oldest and most
commonly used wind
instruments in India. It
could be made of
different materials like
bamboo, ivory, ebony
sandalwood or metal.
Bansuri is found in
the Northern part of
India. It has six holes.

8. Venu
Venu is a wind
instrument from
Southern India,
It is made of
bamboo. It also
has 8 holes.

9. Nagaswaran
Nagaswaran is
a double-reed
instrument with a
conical bore that
enlarges towards the
end. It has 7 finfer-
holes with 5
additional holes
drilled at the
bottom that are
used as controllers.

10. These instruments are played by
plucking the strings of the
instruments.

11. Veena
The veena is the most
distiunctive instrument in
Southern India. This
instrument is carved from a
single block of jackwood
which continues as long
fretted neck from which
another resonator is
attached. Four strings are
used to play the melody
while the remaining three
are used to play drone.

12. Sarod
The sarod is a
musical instrument
that is smaller than
the sitar. It has a metal
finger board with no
frets. The strings of
sarod are plucked
with a pick made of
coconut shell. This
instrument is mainly
used in classical
Indian music and
known for its deep
sound which contrasts
with the sound of the
sitar.

13. Tambura
The tambura is a
drone instrument that is
made of jackwood. It
has a long unfretted
neck which has four to
six tuning pegs inserted
into the upper end of
the resonator. It is held
upright and placed on
the lap of the player. The
strings are plucked by
the forefinger and
middle finger.

14. Sitar
The sitar is the
most popular stringed
instrument in Northern
India. It s made of
teakwood and seasoned
gourds. It has long neck
with twenty metal frets
and six to seven main
strings. This stringed
instrument is used for
solo parts in a
composition.