Indian Music

India is a vast country, populated with 800 million people. Music plays a vital role in their religious ceremonies.

Instruments:
Raga - An extended scale used in Indian music. There are over 250 different Ragas in Indian music. It is a cross between a scale and a melody.

• Sitar (melody): India's favoured string instrument - plucked with frets. Has two sets of strings - one for playing the melody and another that resonate with the main strings. It is quite large - it has a long neck and has a resonator near the neck. 

• Sirangi: Most have 3 main strings - bowed. Many other 'sympathetic' strings (accompaniment) tuned to notes of the Raga. Made from one piece of hollowed wood. 

• Sarod (melody): Originally a primitive tribal instrument. Four playing strings, two rhythm strings. Plucked with a plectrum (like a guitar pick). Many 'sympathetic' strings tuned to notes of the Raga. Very similar sound to the Sitar, except it usually has a lower register than the Sitar. 

• Tambura (also spelled Tampura): Four stringed fretless instrument. Wooden body. Harmonic drone. Tuned to emphasis tonic and dominant notes of the Raga. 

• Harmonium: Provides the accompanying drone. It is a reed instrument operated by bellows. 

• Shehnai: Double reed wind instrument with a loud sound. 

• Tabla (rhythm): The tabla is a pair of drums. Each drum is played by one hand. Bass - left, Treble - right. The bass drum - the bayan - is made of copper or brass, with a large skin. The treble drum is made of a kind of exotic wood. The skin is camel skin! 

In the music, improvisation follows strict rules.