Traditional Indian Musical Instruments

Every country has its own cultural diversity, including in the art of music. India, the land of epics of the gods, brahmins and knights is the same. A country that is predominantly Hindu, has a very unique musical civilization, seen from its attractive form and sound. Music besides inviting people around to dance can also be a spiritual medium that connects the human soul with the Creator. Maybe that's why Indians really enjoy music and dance well. Here are 10 traditional Indian musical instruments:

#1. Bansuri

Bamboo is a plant that is easily found on mainland Asia, so it is not surprising that many traditional musical instruments made of bamboo. In India, suling, known as bansuri, became a tool that almost dominated the composition of traditional Indian music. Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, Prasad Day Chauria is a popular bansuri blower in India.

#2. Tabla

Now this traditional Indian musical instrument is very popular even in the world, many world musicians include tabla sounds in their albums, say the Beatles for the song 'Inner Light' in the single album 'Lady Madonna'. Traditional tools that have a shape like Sundanese or Javanese drum, have unique sounds that are able to invite listeners to dance especially combined with the sounds of tampura and sitar. One of the global tabla Indian musicians is Zakir Hussain and Anoushka Shankar.

#3. Dholak

The existence of dholak is very important in the composition of traditional music specifically for northern India. Dholak has almost the same shape as mridangam, tabla or drum, it's just that the membrane is pitched so tight that the sound is loud. While the tightness and depth of the membrane is very much determined by the tuning that uses a leather strap as a pull.

#4. Shehnai

This one wind instrument was popularized by legendary musician Ustad Bismillah Khan. Shehnai has a blend of flutes and trumpets, but is made of selected wood. Shehnai is a musical instrument used to accompany religious processions, such as marriage.

#5. Ghatam

Do not think of pottery or jugs, this one is only the authority of rice or pulses, because in India Ghatam (jug) is a traditional musical instrument. Ghatam is a traditional musical instrument that gives a distinctive color to southern Indian music. Even some sources say that ghatam has existed since the Ramayana era, so it was included in one of the oldest traditional musical instruments in India. How to play ghatam is almost the same as tabla, dholak and mridangam, with fingers or palms.