Play around with the South Indian Musical instruments.

Instruments - String - Tambura

Tambura is the classical stringed instrument used as the drone accompaniment of any classical music concert. A Tambura is an indispensable instrument in any musical performance as it provides the basic sruthi for the performer.

How is it made?

The body of the Tambura called "Kudam" is semi globular in shape and is made of Jackwood. The belly of the Kudam is slightly convex. A long stem called Dandi is connected to the Kudam. The kudam has a wooden bridge affixed on it while the end of the Dandi has four pegs. The four strings run across the wooden bridge, over the unfretted Dandi and are secured by this four pegs at the top.

How is it played?

The Tambura has four strings. The first string is Pa of the lower octave, the second and third Sa of the middle octave and the fourth is again Sa of the lower octave.

The Tambura is usually held upright while playing. The Kudam rests on the player's right thigh and the right hand's middle and fore fingers are used for playing. The four strings are plucked gently one after the other starting with the Pa string. Middle finger is used for the first string and the fore finger for the other three strings.

Instruments - String - Veena

The Veena is a classical instrument of India and is associated with Saraswathi (the Indian mythological goddess of learning), and Narada the divine musician and sage. The Veena as an instrument went through many stages of development.

The picture you see is the modern South Indian Veena with 24 fixed frets. This Veena is only 3 centuries old. Prior to this the number of frets on the Veena was less than 20 and the frets were either fixed or movable. The veena has seven strings, four for playing and three for drone notes and keeping track of rhythm. A veena player is called a Vainika.

How is it made?

The Veena is made of wood such as maple, silver oak, cedar, spruce, sycamore etc. The wood selected for making the violin should be kept under shade for many years. Ebony wood is used for the finger board, pegs, tail piece and top nut. Metallic strings are sometimes used for the violin. Pernambuco, Brazil wood, snake wood or beech wood is used for making the bow.

If you look at the Veena, it has three parts:
1) The pear shaped bowl
2) The smaller bowl which is the gourd resonator/rest
3) The stem which connects the two bowls

The pear shaped bowl you see in the picture is called Kudam ( which means pear shaped bowl in Tamil). It is hollowed out of a single block of wood ( usually Jackwood or Blackwood). The block of wood to be used for this is preserved for a long time and portions are scooped out at long intervals.

The long section of wood extending from the kudam/bowl to the smaller bowl is called the stem or dandi. The stem is also of the same wood as the bowl. It is broad near the bowl end and gradually tapers towards the smaller bowl. The frets are fixed to the hollow stem by a waxy substance. The stem leads to the neck (i.e. the end of the long section) which is curved downwards and its tip is carved like the head of a yali, a weird animal.

The smaller bowl or resonator which is attached to the under-side of the neck is made of either "papier-mache" or a carved out gourd. This serves as an additional resonator and also as a rest. This bowl is detachable.

How is it played ?

The Veena is held in a slanting position across the player's knees and played. The forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand are used to stop the four main strings on the frets, while the corresponding fingers of the right hand pluck these strings alternately near the bridge. While the four main strings are plucked downwards, the three side strings are sounded by the little finger of right hand moving upwards ( the three strings are sounded simultaneously while playing the melody and not in exclusion).

Veena is a stringed instrument. It is a classical instrument of India and is associated with Saraswathi (the Indian mythological goddess of learning), and Narada the divine musician and sage. The Veena as an instrument went through many stages of development. The picture you see is the modern South Indian Veena with 24 fixed frets. This Veena is only 3 centuries old. Prior to this the number of frets on the Veena was less than 20 and the frets were either fixed or movable. The veena has seven strings, four for playing and three for drone notes and keeping track of rhythm.##Pg##

Instruments - String - Gottu Vadyam

This is a stringed instrument like the Veena but without the frets. Since a wooden stick called Kottu was used to play on this instrument it came to be known as the Kottu Vadyam and eventually Gottu Vadyam.

How is it made?

The Gottuvadyam is structured exactly like the Veena but without the frets. In addition, the Gottuvadyam has sympathetic strings which form the lower layer. The gottuvadyam has a total of twenty strings. Five strings are for playing and are on the upper layer. Below the playing strings are twelve sympathetic strings. Apart from these are three strings for keeping time (as seen in the Veena).

How is it played?

The instrument is placed horizontally in front of the artist and played. A wooden cylindrical stick ( called the Gottu) is held in the left hand and slid over the strings which are simultaneously plucked by the forefinger and the middle finger of the right hand. The little finger is used to pluck the three strings meant for keeping time. Like the Veena, the main strings are plucked downwards while the three strings are plucked upwards.

Instruments - String - Violin

The South Indian Violin is identical to the Western violin but differs in tuning and playing position. The western violin was adapted to Carnatic music and popularised by Baluswamy Dikshitar, brother of composer Muthuswamy Dikshitar.

How is it made?

The violin is made of wood such as maple, silver oak, cedar, spruce, sycamore etc. The wood selected for making the violin should be kept under shade for many years. Ebony wood is used for the finger board, pegs, tail piece and top nut. Metallic strings are sometimes used for the violin. Pernambuco, Brazil wood, snake wood or beech wood is used for making the bow.

How is it played?

The Carnatic violin is held in position with the scroll placed on the ankle and the back resting on the left shoulder and collar bone or chest. The bow is held in the right hand while the left hand moves over the strings.##Pg##

Instruments - Wind - Flute

The flute is a hoary instrument associated with Lord Krishna (an aspect of Lord Visnu, the preserver of the Universe).

How is it made?

The flute is a simple cylindrical tube of uniform girth, closed at one end. The flute has holes placed in a straight line. The holes are of two types. Mouth hole (one in number) and finger holes (varying between 7-9 in number). The mouth hole which is slightly bigger than the finger hole is used for blowing, while the finger holes uniform in size are for producing notes. Flutes can be made of ivory, bamboo sandalwood, ebony, iron, silver and gold. But of all the materials bamboo is preferred the most owing to its excellant tonal quality and resonating properties.

How is it played?

The three (fore, middle and ring) fingers of the left hand and four fingers of the right (excluding the thumb) close the seven finger holes. The various tones are produced by the partial opening or closing of the finger holes. The fingering of Indian flute is different from the European system.

Instruments - Wind - Nagaswaram

Said to be about 800 years old, it is considered an auspicious instrument and hence played for marriages, ceremonies and processions. It is an outdoor instrument and can be heard from a long distance.

How is it made?

The nagasvaram is conical in shape enlarging downwards. It can be made of ebony, red wood, sandalwood,ivory and silver. The nagasvaram has 7 finger holes; there are 5 holes drilled at the bottom which serves as controllers. Of these 5 holes, one serves as an exit for the surplus air.

How is it played?

At the top end of the nagasvaram is a metal staple which has a small metallic cylinder. Into this is introduced a mouth piece made from reed. Air is blown through this reed while playing.

The nagasvaram is a very difficult instrument to master. Unlike the flute, here the various semi tones and quarter tones are produced, not by closing of the finger holes but by adjusting the pressure of air blown. In addition the same holes are used for producing notes of lower, middle and higher octaves. The differences are shown by blowing air in a soft, moderate and strong manner respectively.

Instruments - Wind - Clarinet

Clarinet is a wood-wind instrument of European origin. But it was found suitable for playing Carnatic music too. In the 19th century Mahadeva Nattuvanar was the first to practise this instrument and introduce it in a dance band in South India.

How is it made?

The instrument's shape can be likened to the nagasvaram. A single reed is affixed on the mouth piece which is shaped to fit between the player's lips. The pipe (made either in silver or wood) consists of a cylindrical tube in three sections and has a number of holes on its side. Keys are provided for operating these holes.

How is it played?

The clarinet sounds its lowest note when all the finger holes are covered and air blown through the reed. The length of the air column has to be altered with the help of the keys to produce different notes.The pressure of air entering is controlled by the player by his cheek while playing.##Pg##

Instruments - Bellowed - Harmonium

It is a type of portable organ working on a system of bellows. This instrument is used much more in North India than in south India. The instrument has a keyboard covering two and a half octaves.

How is it played?

The keyboard is played with the right hand while the left hand operates the bellows.

Instruments - Bellowed - Sruthi

The Sruthi box is a small box which works on a system of bellows like the harmonium. The difference being that the Sruthi box does not have a keyboard. It can provide only the three basic notes i.e the Sa,, Pa and the Sa of higher octave. The Sruthi box is used to provide the drone in a concert or for practice.

How is it played?

The bellows are pushed inwards to produce the drone sound.##Pg##

Instruments - Percussion - Mridangam

Mridangam - means clay body (because earlier, it was made of clay) This is an indispensable percussion instrument in any Carnatic music concert. Other percussion instruments like Ghatam, Kanjira and Morsing are considered only secondary to the Mridangam.

How is it made?

The body of the Mridangam is scooped out of a single block of wood (jackwood, redwood or margosa wood can be used). Skins fastened to leather braces are stretched over the two heads of the Mridangam.

The right head is made of three concentric layers of skin ( Calf and sheep skin) while the left head has 2 layers made of buffalo and sheep skin. The right head has a permanant black spot in its centre called Soru (or food) which is composed of maganese dust, boiled rice and fine iron filings. The Mridangam has to be "fed" regularly at intervals depending on the usage. A paste of semolina ('Ravai' in Tamil) and water is applied to the left head before every concert and the paste is scraped off after the performance. These are done to improve the tone of the instrument.

How is it played?

The instrument is played with two hands, wrists and finger tips.

Instruments - Percussion - Thavil

Thavil is the drum used to accompany the nagasvaram band. The Thavil owing to its loudness is ideal for outdoor music.

How is it made?

The Thavil is made of a cylindrical shell hollowed out of a solid block of wood. The shell has skins on two sides stretched over hempen hoops fastened to the shell. The skins are strained by means of leather thongs. A band of leather passes round the shell along the middle over the braces and this serves to tighten the instrument upto the desired pitch.

How is it played?

The right head is played with the right hand, wrist and fingers and the left head is struck with a stick held in the left hand.

Instruments - Percussion - Kanjira

This instrument is used in concerts as a secondary percussion instrument.

How is it made?

The Kanjira is made of a circular wooden frame which is 8-9 inches in diameter and 3-4 inches deep.

On one side of the circular wooden frame, a piece of skin is stretched. The circular wooden frame has slits to accomodate small anklet bells and metal rings which produce jingling sounds alongwith the beat.

How is it played?

The Kanjira is held in the left hand and played with the right hand fingers and palm.

Instruments - Percussion - Ghatam

The mud pot is one of the ancient time-keeping instruments.

How is it made?

It is made of clay and is then fired to harden it.

How is it played?

The Ghatam is played with the two hands, wrists and ten fingers and nails. When the mouth is pressed against the stomch- the instrument gives a deep tone, as the air inside the pot is set in vibration. The tone produced by the instrument varies according to the place where finger strokes are applied- i.e at the neck, centre or the bottom of the outer surface.

Unlike other percussion instruments, the ghatam is not kept in the same position during playing. It is even thrown up in air and caught without missing the relevant beat.

Instruments - Percussion - Morsing

Can be considered the smallest percussion instrument. It produces a nasal sound and is considered a secondary percussive instrument-next to ghatam or the Kanjira.

How is it made?

The Morsing has a circular ring with an elastic thin iron strip called the tongue attached to it. This strip or tongue extends a little beyond the ring at one end and is slightly curled at the other. The iron strip or the tongue passes through the centre of the ring and in between the two arms.

How is it played?

The instrument is held in the left hand and the fork portion is held in the mouth. The curled end of iron strip protrudes out of the mouth and is plucked by the forefinger of the right hand. The cavity of the mouth acts as a resonator.##Pg##

Unclassified Instruments - Jaltarangam

This is an ancient instrument. This instrument does not fall under the categories of string , wind or bellowed instruments. Jaltarang literally means "Water Waves". It is called so because water is an important component for producing music in this instrument. The instrument consists of eighteen porcelain cups of varying sizes. Water is poured into the cups and the pitch is changed by adjusting the volume of water in the cup. Jaltarang has now become a rarely played instrument.

How is it made?

The cups are made of porcelain. The sticks used for playing the instrument is made of bamboo.

How is it played?

The cups are arranged in front of the performer in a semi circle. The cups come in three sizes. Large, medium and small. The large cups produce a deep sound and notes of the lower octaves and the smaller cups produce notes of higher octaves. The medium sized cups produce sounds of the middle octave. The largest cup is placed to the performer's left and the cups are thereafter arranged in decreasing order of their sizes so that the smallest cup is placed on the extreme right. The cups are struck with thin Bamboo sticks.