Tanpura
Strings that are never fretted, played open to hold the drone under a raga.
Coming soonHow Indian instruments make their sound
Pick an instrument to take it apart, hear what each part adds, and find a concert where you can hear it live.
Plucked stringsDrone Plucked strings Wind Drums Plucked strings Reeds
Sitar
A curved bridge makes the buzz; up to 13 sympathetic strings ring underneath.
Take it apart →DrumsTabla
A black spot on each head makes the drum ring in tune instead of thudding.
Take it apart →Sarod
No frets: a polished metal fingerboard lets notes slide, over a skin-covered body.
Coming soonBansuri
A bamboo flute; half-covering a hole bends the note.
Coming soonMridangam
A two-headed barrel drum, the main drum of Carnatic music.
Coming soonVeena
The Saraswati veena: brass frets set in wax along a long neck.
Coming soonHarmonium
Hand-pumped bellows push air through metal reeds, one per key.
Coming soon