Sitar The sitar is a type of long-necked lute played by classical Indian musicians.

This sitar is made of teak with elaborate inlay and a soundbox made from a gourd. There are seven main strings, which are plucked, and eleven sympathetic strings, which vibrate when the main strings are played. The sitar is used to play classical Indian compositions called ragas. Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Vina or Veena, Indian plucked-string instrument in a variety of forms, combining features of a zither and lute and consisting of a fretted or unfretted fingerboard overlaying dual resonant chambers. It has sympathetic strings, giving a shimmering toneMicrosoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 Indian Music, vocal and instrumental music of India, making up a mosaic of different genres and levels of sophistication. At one extreme, classical music is performed in the urban concert halls for purely artistic reasons, and, at the other, many kinds of functional rural musics accompany lifecycle and agricultural rites. In between are many other musical genres of different regions of the country, reflecting the diversity of its peoples, their lifestyles, and their languages.Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 The instruments of Indian classical music fall into two main categories: those that carry the main melody line and those that accompany. Among melody instruments the voice is considered preeminent. Of the many other melodic instruments, the most prominent are the plucked lutes, sitar and sarod in the north and vina in the south; the transverse flute basri; and the double reeds shahnai and nagasvaram.Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 Accompanying instruments serve three principal functions: to provide a drone, to provide a secondary melody, and to keep time and give rhythmic support. For the drone the most common instrument in both north and south is the long-necked lute called a tambura, although the electronic drone box (shruti box) is increasingly used either in conjunction with or in place of the tambura. In the south the Western violin is used to provide a secondary melody, while in the north the bowed lute sarangi and the hand-pumped, free-reed keyboard harmonium are usedMicrosoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

 To keep time and provide rhythmic support, the Karnak system uses the double-ended drum mridangam, sometimes accompanied by the small frame drum kanjira and the earthen pot ghatam; the Hindustani system generally employs the pair of kettle drums called tabla and occasionally the double-ended drum pakhavaja, especially to accompany dhrupad, an austere, archaic form. Percussion solos have also been increasing in popularity and are inserted regularly into instrumental recitals. Another form of accompaniment that has grown popular is jugalbandi, referred to loosely as a duet, which involves two melody instruments exchanging phrases and improvisations.Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.