Types of musical instruments

Classification of Musical Instruments – Indian Musical Instruments

In childhood, I use to often get confused between the types of musical instruments0. Though now I understand it clearly. Still today I thought of doing its proper classification I just don’t want my kids to get confused in future.

String:

String instruments, as the word suggest have strings in it. Sound depends on the thickness of string as well as length of air column. Below are few of the string instruments

• Guitar

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• Sitar
• Violin
• Sarod
• Sarangi
• Mandolin

Wind or Wood wind:

Sound is produced in wood wind instrument by blowing the air. The shorter the air column will produce high pitch and vice a versa. The sound note depends on amount of air blown and length of air column in instrument. Different types of wind instruments are

• Flute

• Bagpipe
• Saxophone
• Shehnai
• Been

 

Percussion:

Sound note is produced in percussion instrument by striking or beating the surface of instrument. Beating or striking causes the vibration which in turn produces the sound. The sound note depends on the surface of instrument that gets hit by the stick or the hand. Different percussion instruments are:

• Drum
• Congo
• Tabla

• Djembe
• Bongo
• Dhol
• Triangle
• Xylophone

Brass:

As the name suggests, these instruments are not necessarily made from brass. They are called brass instrument because of the nature and texture of sound that gets produced. The principle of producing sound is similar to wood wind instruments. Air column varies with the press valves or slide mechanism.

• Trumpet

• Bugle
• Tuba
• Trombone

Electric Instruments:

They are quite latest in market and have created a sort of revolution. They are quite light weighted instruments and have almost replaced the bulky instruments. They are recently used in play back singing.

• Piano keyboards
• Synthesizers
• Taal Tarang
• Digital Tabla
• Swaramandal

• Swarangini
• Digital Tanpura

Did you enjoyed the post, if yes, do leave the comment. If you are looking for any of the above instruments from India, do make a visit to www.indianity.com

 

Holding Violin for the first time

Holding Violin for the first timeFinally I am getting a chance to learn playing Violin. I am so very happy about it. It was my long cherished dream. Violin has attracted me since childhood. Tomorrow is my first session of Violin,therefore, I feel I should at least know how to hold the Violin in my hand. Right posture will result in ease of playing and faster learning, I believe.

From the people I have seen playing and from some internet sources, I have gathered information on how to hold a violin

1. First thing, one should sit straight and make sure your foot is fixed flat in ground.

2. Hold violin horizontally on the left collar bone.
3. Rest your chin on chin rest.

4. Keep your head tilted on left side so that chin rest runs along your jaw and ends at your chin.

5. Place the violin in the centre, so that it makes the straight line from nose.

6. Violin should be held straight. The strings of violin should be parallel to ground.

7. Left hand should be placed at the end of the Violin’s neck, before the struts.

8. Hold the neck between your left thumb and forefinger.

9. Only your forefinger should touch onto top of the neck.

10. A straight line should be formed between the left wrist and forearms

11. Last thing is to hold the bow from its end with right thumb and fingers

Uff, finally I was able to hold the violin as per the above steps. I am juggling between my fingers,violin, bow, collar bone and chin. I think it will get better with practise. I am positive. Try holding Violin with above mentioned steps and share your opinion.

After researching I got to know the cheapest source to buy violin online – www.indianity.com. You can also visit them if you are looking for one.

Buddha – Spiritual Teacher.