INTRODUCTION

Musical instruments have very important place in Indian Music. India has a rich musical history with
records of ancient musical instruments found in revered Hindu religious scriptures. Indian
music is believed to have been developed as a result of the interaction between Indian
people and people belonging to many diverse cultures. There are many types of musical
instruments which Indians have used since ancient times. Many musical instruments were
developed to accompany religious singing. Depictions of Mira, a devotee of Lord Krishna in
many antique art works and other such depictions show the significance of musical
instruments in worship.

Percussion Instruments - A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit, shaken,
rubbed, scraped or by any action which sets the object into vibration. The term usually applies to an object used in
a rhythmic context or with musical intent.

Membranous Percussion Instruments (Avanaddh) - These are instruments that produce sound with strike-
able membranes, mostly of weathered leather. Tabla, Dholak, Dhol, Daff, Damroo, Mridangam, Nagada, Pakhawaj,
Khol (Mridangam), Nal (Dholki) etc. are examples of Membranous Percussion Instruments.

Chameli

This instrument is Indian equivalent of the African instrument Djembe. It has

membrane on only one side and has a typical torch shaped body. It is used for
accompanying certain folk dances.

Dholak

Dholak is a two sided barrel shaped North Indian instrument with a thin
leather membrane on right side and a thicker leather membrane with special
clay mix applied on the inside of left side. This allows the instrument to
produce heavier bass beats from left hand and shriller treble beats from right
hand. Traditionally the tuning of the instrument is adjusted with cross winding
ropes but contemporary versions also have metal turnbuckles for tuning.
Dholak is an indispensable instrument for light music and is used amply in
Bhajans, Bollywood songs and Qawwalis.

Dhol

Dhol is a very popular two sided barrel or cylindrical shaped North Indian instrument very
similar to Dholak but larger in size and differs from Dholak in that sides are struck with
sticks rather than hands. Although Dhol is prevalent in most of East, West and North India,
it is most commonly used in Punjab specially while performing the famous Bhangra dance.

Daff / Daflee

Daffis an Indian flat drum with leather membrane on one side of a large wooden ring. It is
used mostly in Folk music and frequently employed by Bollywood music directors. Daflee is
a popular version of Daff which has metal sounders at Perimeter of Daff.
Dumroo

Dumroo is probably the oldest form of percussion instrument in India. It is the only
remaining form of hour-glass drums which are so commonly seen in ancient Indian statues.
Its musical role is minimal and it is most commonly known for its association with Lord
Shiva and monkey charmers. It is historically important in that it is considered the
forefather of all two sided membranous instruments.

Mridangam

Mridangam is an indispensable South Indian percussion Instrument and holds same

importance in Carnatic music as Tabla in Hindustani music. Its form is very close to
Pakhawaj and differs in that the coating on left side is temporarily done with flour dough
and has to be removed after each performance.

Pakhawaj

Pakhawaj is said to be originated from Dumroo and is considered to be the oldest

percussion instrument in India as far as musical relevance is concerned. It is also a two
sided leather membrane instrument with special clay mix (Masala) applied to both sides for
sweeter sounds. Its mode of playing is similar to Tabla, but in a Dholak like fashion.
Pakhawaj is a North Indian Instrument.

Tabla

Tabla is a pair of drums originated by dividing the Pakhawaj into two parts and closing the
open ends. It is played in upright position with left hand playing the bass (Baya) and right
playing the treble (Tabla). Both the drums have clay mix applied to them like Pakhawaj.
Tabla is a North Indian Instrument.

History
Anthropologists and historians often speculate that percussion instruments were the first musical devices ever
created. The human voice was probably the first musical instrument, but percussion instruments such as hands
and feet, then sticks, rocks, and logs were almost certainly the next steps in the evolution of music.Many caves in
France, near Caberets and Grotte du Pech Merle, are believed to have been inhabited by early human
communities. In those caves, anthropologists have observed red dots which appear in most places where other
carvings/paintings appear. It is believed that the dots/markings were formed by people who would tap or hammer
those parts of the rock which have obvious acoustic significance; tapping those particular places causes tones
which resonate throughout the cavern (like the echo of voices in a giant cathedral or drums in a large hall). [1] This
may be proof that humans were aware of the acoustic properties of percussion instruments and resonating
chambers as early as 25,000 years ago; though much speculation suggests that humans likely used percussion
instruments long before that.As humans developed tools for hunting and eventually agriculture, their skill and
technology enabled them to craft more complex instruments. For example, a simple log may have been carved to
produce louder tones (a log drum) and instruments may have been combined to produce multiple tones (as in a
'set' of log drums).