Musical Instruments: Classification, Structure and Role of Accompanying Instruments
Domain 8 tests classification and the practical role of instruments in vocal accompaniment.
Classification
- Tat vadya (string): tanpura, sitar, sarangi.
- Sushir vadya (wind): harmonium, bansuri, shehnai.
- Avanadh vadya (percussion): tabla, dhol, pakhawaj.
- Ghan vadya (solid/idiophone): jhanjh, chimta, manjira.
Structure and role
- Tanpura: four strings, gourd resonator, jawari bridge; tuned to Sa–Pa–Sa–Sa or Sa–Ma–Sa–Sa; provides continuous drone and shruti.
- Tabla: dayan (right, tuned) and bayan (left, bass); syahi patches; bols such as Dha, Dhin, Tin; keeps tala.
- Harmonium: free-reed, bellows, keyboard; accompanies voice but has fixed tuning and limited meend.
Worked example
A singer chooses Tanpura, Tabla and Harmonium. Tanpura is tat vadya and supplies the drone; tabla is avanadh and supplies theka; harmonium is sushir and supplies melodic support. Reasoning: classification depends on how sound is produced, not on size or popularity.
Traps
- Calling harmonium a string instrument because it has keys.
- Saying tabla's bayan is the tuned drum; the dayan is tuned.
- Treating tanpura as a solo percussion instrument.
- Forgetting that sarangi is a bowed string instrument used for vocal accompaniment.