--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/instrumental' title: 'Instrumental: the instruments of Indian raga' author: name: Anonymous updated: '2026-10-31T16:33:27+00:00' type: website summary: 'Indian classical instrumental music, or vadya, spans strings, wind, drums and solid percussion. A melodic instrument carries the raga and a drum keeps the tala.' 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 --- Main Discipline # Instrumental वाद्य Raga and tala voiced through strings, wind, drums and solid percussion. Carnatic & Hindustani Four vadya families Sub-disciplines 2 Courses 0 Indian classical instrumental music, or vadya, spans strings, wind, and percussion across the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, each instrument shaped to carry raga and tala. [ Explore Courses ](/en-gb/courses?discipline=230) [Sign in to follow](/en-gb/user/login?flag_anon=follow_term-230&destination=/en-gb/markdownify/taxonomy/term/230) [ Share ](/en-gb/share/term/230) ## Rich Heritage The earliest surviving systematic account of Indian instruments is the Natya Shastra, attributed by tradition to the sage Bharata and compiled between about 200 BCE and 200 CE. It sorts instruments into the **four families** still taught today; the musicologist Rowell holds that the four groups are older than the text. In the 13th century Sarngadeva wrote the **Sangita Ratnakara**, whose sixth chapter treats instruments (vadya). Scholars disagree on when north and south parted. One view links the split to Persian and Islamic influence from the 12th century; another finds a clear division only by the 16th and 17th centuries. Several instruments heard in concert today arrived later. The sitar and tabla rose in the 18th century, the sarod grew from the Afghan rubab in the 19th, and the violin reached south Indian music from Europe in the late 18th or early 19th century. Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri, the **Carnatic Trinity**, composed across the same decades. ## Artistic Philosophy A constant drone sounds beneath the melody. In Hindustani music the tanpura, or an electronic drone, sounds Sa, the tonic, with Pa or Ma, and the music has no chord changes. Players shape the melody as a singer would. Sitar, sarod, sarangi and santoor players render vocal ornaments such as **meend**, a glide between notes. Carnatic players render the **gamakas** proper to their instrument; a gamaka is the oscillation or inflection of a note. A Hindustani instrumental performance customarily opens with an unmetred **alap**, gathers a steady pulse in jor, speeds into jhala and then turns to a **gat**, a composition for the instrument, with tabla. Carnatic players improvise within raga and tala through forms such as raga alapana and kalpana swara, passages improvised on the note names. Players learn the ornaments and the improvising over years of face-to-face study with a guru. In the north that teaching passes through the **gharana**, a lineage linked by family or apprenticeship and by a shared style, such as the Imdadkhani school of sitar and surbahar. ## Upcoming Events Experience live performances and concerts celebrating Instrumental [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) ### [A Hundred Strings in Oxford: Two Strings, One Pulse](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan **Holywell Music Room** WED, NOV 18 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse/book) [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) ### [A Hundred Strings in Oxford: Two Strings, One Pulse](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan **Holywell Music Room** WED, NOV 18 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse/book) [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) ### [A Hundred Strings in Oxford: Two Strings, One Pulse](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan **Holywell Music Room** WED, NOV 18 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse/book) [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) ### [A Hundred Strings in Manchester: Strings of Kashmir and Delhi](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan · Shahbaz Hussain **The Stoller Hall** FRI, NOV 20 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi/book) [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) ### [A Hundred Strings in Manchester: Strings of Kashmir and Delhi](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan · Shahbaz Hussain **The Stoller Hall** FRI, NOV 20 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi/book) [ ](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) ### [A Hundred Strings in Manchester: Strings of Kashmir and Delhi](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) Adnan Khan · Vinay Desai · Akram Khan · Shahbaz Hussain **The Stoller Hall** FRI, NOV 20 7:00 PM [ Book Tickets](/en-gb/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi/book) ## Explore Categories Dive deeper into specific aspects of this discipline [ ### Carnatic Classical Carnatic instrumental music is South Indian classical music played on veena, violin, flute and mridangam. Instrumentalists play the same songs as singers, in a singing style. 14 items 0 courses ](/en-gb/instrumental/carnatic-classical) [ ### Hindustani Classical Hindustani classical instrumental music is North Indian raga music played on instruments such as sitar, sarod, sarangi, bansuri and tabla, each with its own technique. 20 items 0 courses ](/en-gb/instrumental/hindustani-classical) ## Featured Disciplines Popular sub-disciplines within this tradition [ Featured ### Indian Slide Guitar Indian slide guitar plays Hindustani raga on a guitar laid across the lap, with a slide bar and finger picks. Learn bar control, pitch by ear and plucking in phrases. ](/en-gb/instrumental/hindustani-classical/indian-slide-guitar) [ Featured ### Rudra Veena Rudra veena (been or bin): a plucked tube zither tied to dhrupad. Learn the pluck, the sideways string pull at the fret called meend, and raga phrasing. ](/en-gb/instrumental/hindustani-classical/rudra-veena) [ Featured ### Veena The Saraswati veena is the 24-fret plucked lute of Carnatic music, with a jackwood body and seven strings, named after Saraswati, goddess of learning and music. ](/en-gb/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) [ Featured ### Sitar The sitar is a plucked, fretted, long-necked lute of Hindustani classical music, with movable frets, sympathetic strings and a gourd body, played with a wire mizrab. ](/en-gb/instrumental/hindustani-classical/sitar) ## Media Gallery Audio and video performances ### Video Performances (6) [ Live Performance 4:38 ### Meditative State \| Dhun \| Raag Charukeshi \| Pt. Debasis Chakroborty 5 months ago ](/en-gb/video/meditative-state-dhun-raag-charukeshi-pt-debasis-chakroborty) [ Live Performance 05:20 ### Raag Miyan ki Malhar \| Jhaptaal \| Slide Guitar & Tabla \| Debasis Chakroborty, Akram Khan \| KalaSudha 6 months ago ](/en-gb/video/raag-miyan-ki-malhar-jhaptaal-slide-guitar-tabla-debasis-chakroborty-akram-khan-kalasudha) [ Live Performance 08:08 ### Awakening \| Raag Bhairavi \| Pt. Debasis Chakroborty \| Slide Guitar Live at Hoxton \| KalaSudha 6 months ago ](/en-gb/video/awakening-raag-bhairavi-pt-debasis-chakroborty-slide-guitar-live-at-hoxton-kalasudha) [ Live Performance 5:10 ### Raag Bhairav \| Rekesh Chauhan & Shahbaz Hussain \| Live \| The Duke’s Hall 7 months ago ](/en-gb/video/raag-bhairav-rekesh-chauhan-shahbaz-hussain-live-the-dukes-hall) [ Live Performance 9:20 ### Mountain Dhun by Ajay Prasanna \| Live \| Raga Unison at Edinburgh 7 months ago ](/en-gb/video/mountain-dhun-by-ajay-prasanna-live-raga-unison-at-edinburgh) [ Live Performance 13:46 ### Raag Madhuvanti Alaap \| Debasis Chakroborty & Giuliano Modarelli 7 months ago ](/en-gb/video/raag-madhuvanti-alaap-debasis-chakroborty-giuliano-modarelli) #### Pagination 1 [ Next ›› ](/en-gb/markdownify/taxonomy/term/230?page=1%2C%2C0 "Go to next page") ## Featured Artists Discover renowned Instrumental performers and maestros [ ](/en-gb/artist/jonathan-mayer) ### [Jonathan Mayer ](/en-gb/artist/jonathan-mayer) Sitar Jonathan Mayer began playing music at the age of five, learning the violin from his grandfather, Albert Hepton, piano from James Methuen-Campbell, and composition from his father. At sixteen, he took London, United Kingdom [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/jonathan-mayer) [ ](/en-gb/artist/giuliano-modarelli) ### [Giuliano Modarelli ](/en-gb/artist/giuliano-modarelli) Guitar Giuliano Modarelli is an internationally acclaimed Italian guitarist and composer, celebrated for his distinctive blend of Indian classical, jazz, and contemporary world music. Based in London, he has London, United Kingdom [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/giuliano-modarelli) [ ](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) ### [Satwinder Pal Singh ](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) Sarangi Satwinder Pal Singh is a London-based sarangi player from Moga, Punjab. He and his father are the first father-son Top Grade sarangi players in the Sikh Panth. London, United Kingdom [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) [ ](/en-gb/artist/rekesh-chauhan) ### [Rekesh Chauhan ](/en-gb/artist/rekesh-chauhan) Piano Rekesh Chauhan is a multi‑award‑winning British Indian pianist and composer, known for his groundbreaking fusion of Eastern and Western classical traditions. With early grounding in Indian classical London, United Kingdom [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/rekesh-chauhan) [ ](/en-gb/artist/ajay-prasanna) ### [Ajay Prasanna ](/en-gb/artist/ajay-prasanna) Bansuri (Flute) Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a widely acclaimed international flautist from a distinguished musical family. He carries the legacy of his father, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, who was one of the best flautists New Delhi, India [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/ajay-prasanna) [ ](/en-gb/artist/deepak-shah) ### [Deepak Shah ](/en-gb/artist/deepak-shah) Piano Deepak Shah is an Indian pianist and composer who plays Indian classical ragas on the grand piano. His music blends Indian and Western styles in a smooth, natural way. For over twenty-five years, he Mumbai, India [View Profile](/en-gb/artist/deepak-shah) ## Past Events Explore our archive of Instrumental performances [ ](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) ### [London Ragas: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty & Ustad Akram Khan](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan **The Tate Institute** SAT, SEP 26 6:00 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) [ ](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) ### [London Ragas: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty & Ustad Akram Khan](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan **The Tate Institute** SAT, SEP 26 6:00 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) [ ](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) ### [Kala Festival 2026: Rhythms of Ragas & of Feet](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan · Alokparna Guha **The Bhavan** WED, SEP 23 7:00 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) [ ](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) ### [Kala Festival 2026: Rhythms of Ragas & of Feet](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan · Alokparna Guha **The Bhavan** WED, SEP 23 7:00 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) [ ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) ### [Cambridge Ragas: Resonance of Sitar, Slide Guitar, and Tabla](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan · Sam Evans **Cambridge Junction** SUN, SEP 20 6:30 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) [ ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) ### [Cambridge Ragas: Resonance of Sitar, Slide Guitar, and Tabla](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan · Sam Evans **Cambridge Junction** SUN, SEP 20 6:30 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) [ ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) ### [Cambridge Ragas: Resonance of Sitar, Slide Guitar, and Tabla](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) Debasis Chakroborty · Akram Khan · Sam Evans **Cambridge Junction** SUN, SEP 20 6:30 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) [ ](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) ### [Norwich Ragas: Slide & Strum on The Mystic Frets](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) Giuliano Modarelli · Debasis Chakroborty · Sam Evans · R. N. Prakash **St Andrew's Hall, Norwich** SAT, SEP 19 6:30 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) [ ](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) ### [Norwich Ragas: Slide & Strum on The Mystic Frets](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) Giuliano Modarelli · Debasis Chakroborty · Sam Evans · R. N. Prakash **St Andrew's Hall, Norwich** SAT, SEP 19 6:30 PM [View Details ](/en-gb/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) #### Pagination 1 Current page [ Page 2 ](?page=0%2C%2C1 "Go to page 2") [ Page 3 ](?page=0%2C%2C2 "Go to page 3") [ Page 4 ](?page=0%2C%2C3 "Go to page 4") [ Page 5 ](?page=0%2C%2C4 "Go to page 5") [ Page 6 ](?page=0%2C%2C5 "Go to page 6") [ Page 7 ](?page=0%2C%2C6 "Go to page 7") [ Page 8 ](?page=0%2C%2C7 "Go to page 8") [ Page 9 ](?page=0%2C%2C8 "Go to page 9") [ Next page ](?page=0%2C%2C1 "Go to next page") Stay close ## Keep KalaSudha close. 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