Musical Instruments of India: Classification and Prominent Artists

Introduction

India has a rich heritage of musical instruments, documented from the Vedas through the Natya Shastra and Sangita Ratnakara. The traditional classification system is based on the instrument's construction and method of sound production. The Natya Shastra describes four categories (caturvidha), matching the global Hornbostel-Sachs system remarkably closely.

Traditional Classification (Natya Shastra)

1. Tat Vadya (Chordophones — String Instruments)

Sound produced by vibrating strings.

Plucked Strings

• Veena — Saraswati Veena (Tamil Nadu, Carnatic) is the national instrument of India. Plucked with fingers; used for solo classical. Rudra Veena (Hindustani) — dhrupad accompaniment, two large gourd resonators.
• Sitar — The most globally recognised Indian instrument. Developed in 13th-14th century from the Persian setar and Indian veena. Pandit Ravi Shankar propelled it to global fame.
• Sarod — Deep, heavy tone. Lute-like, unfretted. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is the leading exponent.
• Surbahar — Bass sitar for slow alap.
• Tanpura — Drone instrument (not played melodically). Four strings. Provides the continuous harmonic base. Essential in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions.
• Santoor — Hammered dulcimer (100 strings). Kashmiri origin. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma popularised it as a classical solo instrument.

Bowed Strings

• Violin — Adopted from the West. In Carnatic music, the violin is the primary accompaniment instrument (held differently — scroll rests on foot). M.S. Gopalakrishnan, L. Subramaniam, N. Rajam.
• Sarangi — Bowed instrument closest to the human voice. 37-40 sympathetic strings. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (also sarangi player). Ustad Sultan Khan and Pt. Ram Narayan.
• Dilruba / Esraj — Hybrid between sitar and sarangi. Used in Sikh devotional music and light classical.
• Chikara — Folk bowed instrument of Rajasthan and Punjab.