String Instruments
 
Banam: a single string instrument is played with a stick - is used by the tribes of Bihar  

Chikara: a three stringed (two horse hair & one steel) instrument - is used by tribal people from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh  

Dilruba: an instrument with four main & eleven sympathetic strings - used mainly in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh & Punjab.  

Kamancha: is used by folk singers of Rajasthan  

Ektara: a simple instrument used during religious chanting & bhajans by sages & saints  

Gottuvadyam: is similar to the veena, but without the frets - is played by gliding a stick on the strings  

Kinnari: an instrument that is considered to have been played by the celestial beings Kinnara (half bird)  

Mahati: the veena that is considered to have been played by sage Narada  

Rabab: the instrument that was used by Tansen  

Ravanahatta: the instrument that Ravana is supposed to have invented - still popular in Rajasthan  

Santoor: an instrument with several strings (60-100) is played using two curved sticks  

Sarangi: has three main strings & around 30-40 sympathetic strings  

Sarinda: used by the Langas of Rajasthan  

Sarod: the upper finger board has a plate of burnished steel - has seven principal strings - has no frets  

Sitar: similar to veena - there are three varieties single sitar, double sitar & double gourd sitar  

Tambura: provides the drone - continuously provides a particular base sound  

Veena: a South Indian classical intrument - has four main strings  

Violin: used as an accompaniment to classical & light music - also solo performances - played with a bow


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