---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-are-the-bari-and-timiri-types-of-nadaswaram'
title: 'What are the bari and timiri types of nadaswaram?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/user/0f961cccc99524ed'
date: '2026-10-19T15:13:37+00:00'
updated: '2026-10-26T11:51:36+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'The bari nadaswaram is larger and lower-pitched; the timiri is smaller, higher-pitched and closer to the shehnai in size.'
tags:
  - 'Instruments & artforms'
image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
published: true
og:
  site_name: KalaSudha
  'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:type': image/svg+xml
  'image:alt': KalaSudha
---
  [  Help ](/en-gb/help)     What are the bari and timiri types of nadaswaram?  

1. [  Home ](/en-gb)
2. 
3. [ Help ](/en-gb/help)
4. 
5. Instruments & artforms
6. 
7. What are the bari and timiri types of na…
 
 

 

  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What are the bari and timiri types of nadaswaram?

 Updated 26 October 2026

 The two main types of **[nadaswaram](/instrument/nadaswaram)** are the bari, also written pari, which is larger and lower-pitched, and the timiri, which is smaller, higher-pitched and closer in size to the shehnai.

In Musical Instruments of India (1978), B. Chaitanya Deva gives the main pipe of the bari as nearly 90 cm long. A bari instrument can have a bell about 16 cm across. A nadaswaram can measure 76 to 95 cm long. S. Krishnaswami gives a shorter length for the instrument: 2 to 2½ feet, about 61 to 76 cm. P. Sambamoorthy's catalogue for the Government Museum, Chennai, gives the same figure for the wooden bore.



 

 Was this answer helpful? [  ](/en-gb/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-943&destination=/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-are-the-bari-and-timiri-types-of-nadaswaram)

 [  ](/en-gb/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-943&destination=/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-are-the-bari-and-timiri-types-of-nadaswaram)

 

 Thanks for your feedback!

 

 ## Related pages

 1 page mentions this question

 

 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Nadaswaram The nadaswaram is South India's principal double-reed instrument, for temple music, weddings and Carnatic concerts: aacha or jackwood body, circular breathing,…     ](/en-gb/instrument/nadaswaram)
 
  

 

 

   [     Previous question What are tarab and chikari strings?  ](/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-are-tarab-and-chikari-strings) [  Next question What are the basic mridangam strokes?     ](/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-are-the-basic-mridangam-strokes)