--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical' title: 'Carnatic Classical: instruments of South India' author: name: Anonymous updated: '2026-10-31T16:34:14+00:00' type: website summary: 'Carnatic classical instrumental music is South Indian classical music on veena, violin, venu and mridangam. Players render kritis without words in gayaki style.' tags: - Instrumental 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 --- Tradition # Carnatic Classical Veena, violin and venu that follow the singing voice, with the mridangam on rhythm Sub-disciplines 14 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. [ Explore Courses ](/en-int/courses?discipline=234) [ Show interest ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/show-interest) [Sign in to follow](/en-int/user/login?flag_anon=follow_term-234&destination=/en-int/markdownify/taxonomy/term/234) [ Share ](/en-int/share/term/234) ## Overview **Carnatic instrumental music** is the classical music of South India, Carnatic (also written Karnatak), as played on the [veena](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena), violin, venu (bamboo flute), mridangam and other instruments. Indian classical music has two systems, Carnatic and Hindustani. Instrumentalists play the same **ragas** (melodic frameworks), **talas** (rhythmic cycles) and composed songs as singers. The tradition expects a melodic instrument to follow the voice, an ideal called **gayaki** (singing style). A solo instrumental concert renders kritis, the main song form, without the words. [Hindustani instrumental music](/en-int/instrumental/hindustani-classical), by contrast, has compositions of its own, called gats. Melodic players produce **gamakas**, controlled oscillations and glides on and between notes, which mark each raga's identity. In a typical concert a singer or melodic instrumentalist leads, with the violin as accompanist. The [mridangam](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/mridangam), a double-headed barrel drum, carries the rhythm, and the ghatam (clay pot) or kanjira (frame drum) may join it. The nadaswaram (nagaswaram), a double-reed pipe, leads its own ensemble with the tavil drum at temples and auspicious occasions. By tradition, learners begin with graded exercises (sarali and janta varisai) and short songs called gitams. **Varnams**, compositions practised at two speeds, and kritis follow, then improvisation such as alapana, an unmetred exploration of the raga. Tuning the instrument to the performer's pitch is a basic skill. Percussionists learn spoken rhythm syllables (sollukattu) alongside the drum. Part of **Instrumental**: 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. [ Discipline ### 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. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) [ Discipline ### 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. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) [ Discipline ### 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. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) [ Discipline ### 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. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) [ Discipline ### Violin The Carnatic violin is the Western violin as played in South Indian classical music: tuned differently, played seated on the floor, and heard as accompanist and soloist. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/violin) [ Discipline ### Violin The Carnatic violin is the Western violin as played in South Indian classical music: tuned differently, played seated on the floor, and heard as accompanist and soloist. Explore ](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/violin) ## Media Gallery Audio and video performances [ Live Performance 13:46 ### Raag Madhuvanti Alaap \| Debasis Chakroborty & Giuliano Modarelli 7 months ago ](/en-int/video/raag-madhuvanti-alaap-debasis-chakroborty-giuliano-modarelli) [ Live Performance 8:50 ### Raga Unison \| Indian Slide Guitar & Guitar \| Debasis Chakroborty & Giuliano Modarelli \| Edinburgh 9 months ago ](/en-int/video/raga-unison-indian-slide-guitar-guitar-debasis-chakroborty-giuliano-modarelli-edinburgh) ## Frequently Asked Questions Where can I learn a Carnatic classical instrument online with a live teacher? KalaSudha teaches [Carnatic classical instruments](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical) online, such as the [veena](/en-int/instrumental/carnatic-classical/veena) and mridangam, in live one-to-one lessons with a vetted teacher. Instrumentalists play the same ragas (melodic frameworks), talas (rhythmic cycles) and songs as singers, and a melodic instrument follows the voice, an ideal called **gayaki**, or singing style. A solo concert renders kritis without the words, and melodic players shape each raga with **gamakas**, glides and oscillations on and between notes. Beginners start at Foundation in our [online academy](/en-int/academy), and each award names your instrument. When enough learners in an area register interest, workshops and summer camps follow there. Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help! Stay close ## Keep KalaSudha close. Receive news of concerts, learning opportunities, recordings and the work taking shape at KalaSudha. - Concert news - ·Learning opportunities - ·Recordings and stories We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.