What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been classified?
The history of Indian musical instruments can be gathered from various sources such as literature (folk, general music), visual representations (paintings, sculptures, etc). Indian musical instruments like any other attribute represent India's diversity.
Most of the Indian musical instruments have evolved over centuries and have a unique history behind their evolution.
Some instruments were developed in the country while some others came from foreign lands but, transformed and developed by skilled Indian artists with the passage of time.
The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories:
(i) Tata Vadya [String Instruments, Chordophonous]
The instruments are classified based on the mode of playing
(iii) Avanaddha Vadya [Membrane covered, Membranophonous]
It comprises all percussion instruments classified based on mode of playing. These are:
(iv) Ghana Vadya [Solid Percussion Instruments]
This covers instruments made out of metal, wood, stone or clay e.g. Ghatam, Kartal, Gongs, Cymbals, etc.
The history of Indian musical instruments can be gathered from various sources such as literature (folk, general music), visual representations (paintings, sculptures, etc). Indian musical instruments like any other attribute represent India's diversity.
Most of the Indian musical instruments have evolved over centuries and have a unique history behind their evolution.
Some instruments were developed in the country while some others came from foreign lands but, transformed and developed by skilled Indian artists with the passage of time.
The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories:
(i) Tata Vadya [String Instruments, Chordophonous]
The instruments are classified based on the mode of playing
- By friction with bow e.g. Violin, Sarangi, Dilruba, Esraj, etc.
- By plucking the string e.g. Veena, Rudra veena, Gotuvadyam, Sitar, Sarod, Ektara, etc.
- By striking with a hammer e.g. Gettuvadyam, Swaramandala)
- ii) Snahira Vadya [Wind Instruments]:
- It comprises hollow instruments where wind is the producer of sound. The instruments are classified based on mode of playing. These are:
- Those instruments where wind is supplied by some mechanical means e.g. Harmonium
- Those instruments where wind is supplied by the breath of the performer. The instruments are of the two types—Mouth blown, where wind is blown through the mouth pieces in the instrument e.g. Nadaswaram, shehnai, and nose blown where wind is blown through the orifices in the wall of instrument e.g. flute.
(iii) Avanaddha Vadya [Membrane covered, Membranophonous]
It comprises all percussion instruments classified based on mode of playing. These are:
- Those played by hand, e.g. Mridangam
- Those played using stick, e.g. Nagada
- Those played partly by hand and partly by stick, e.g. Tavil
- Self struck, e.g. Damaru
- Those where one side is struck and the other side stroked, e.g. Perumal madudrum
(iv) Ghana Vadya [Solid Percussion Instruments]
This covers instruments made out of metal, wood, stone or clay e.g. Ghatam, Kartal, Gongs, Cymbals, etc.