harmanjit_kaur
Waheguru Waheguru
Punjab has a rich musical tradition as Punjab's folkal instruments go back many centuries. Please browse through below and learn about the various Punjabi instruments. Note that you may click on the thumbnail photos to enlarge.
Punjab has a rich musical tradition as Punjab's folkal instruments go back many centuries. These instruments have left a big impression in the history of Punjab. Bhai Mardana, the disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, used to play a musical instrument called Rabab. Whenever Guruji used to recite Gurbani, they would say:
Traditional Instruments:
Dhol:
Description: High bass, energetic tone.
The dhol is a percussion musical instrument) widely used in the Punjab region, and nowadays, it is very popular in modern Punjabi music.
Dhad:
Description: Low bass, mellow tone.
Dhad is a small percussion instrument of the Damru style.
Algoje/Jori:
Description: Low to high pitch, beautiful tune.
A magical instrument!
Dafli:
Description: Light ringy tune.
The dafli, also popularly known as daf, dappler or tambourine, is a must for weddings.
Damru:
Description: This is a particular version of the Damru.
Damru is one of the attributes of several Hindu deities and gods, particularly of Shiva.
Sarangi:
Description: Stringed, high and low tunes.
The name Sarangi is said to mean 'sau rang' (100 colours) or 'sa rang' (colours whatever it touches).
Tumbi/Toomba:
Description: High stringy tunes.
The tumbi is a traditional Punjabi string instrument. Its one string can produce both high and low tones.
Chhika Sap:
Description: Clap stick sounds.
This is also used in Bhangra.
Chimta:
Description: Ring like sounds.
The chimta is another percussion instrument commonly used in the popular Punjabi form of music called bhangra.
Ghalar (Kato):
Description: High and low clap tunes.
The simple earthen pitcher serves as a musical instrument in a number of folk songs.
Ghara (Ghatam):
This earthenpot (water-pot) is also used as a music instrument to create rhythm for some singing occasion.
Dilruba:
The Taus, a failrly large and heavy instrument, was designed and created by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.
Pakhawaj:
Pakhawaj is essentially a north Indian version of the mridangam and is the most common north Indian representative of the class of barrel shaped drums known as mridang.
Rabaab:
The Rabaab is a plucked instrument made of wood. It has a double belly, the first being covered with parchment and the second with wood.
Tanpura:
Tanpura is a drone instrument with four strings, three of steel and the fourth of brass.
Tabla:
Tabla is the most popular percussion instrument of Hindustani music.
Santoor:
The Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from Kashmir.
Saranda:
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606), fifth Sikh Guru, was a master musician and musicologist.
Sarode:
The Sarode, named SAROD-DHAYAK-VINA in Sanskrit, was invented by Bharat Muni.
Sitar:
The name of the instrument is derived from the Persian expression ‘seh-tar’ meaning 3 strings, which is the number of strings the instrument originally had.
Taus:
Taus means ‘peacock’ in Persian and is derived from sitar and sarangi.
Bansuri (The Bamboo Flute):
The bansuri is one of the oldest and most original instruments.
Punjab has a rich musical tradition as Punjab's folkal instruments go back many centuries. These instruments have left a big impression in the history of Punjab. Bhai Mardana, the disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, used to play a musical instrument called Rabab. Whenever Guruji used to recite Gurbani, they would say:
Mardaneya, Rabab Vaja
Bani Ayi Aa
Moreover, in almost every occasion or festival, Punjabi people do have some musical program. Almost all the folk dances are performed on the tunes of some musical instrument be it Dholki, Dhol, Algoje or simple Tumbi. Some of the traditional punjabi musical instruments are shown below:Traditional Instruments:
Dhol:
Description: High bass, energetic tone.
The dhol is a percussion musical instrument) widely used in the Punjab region, and nowadays, it is very popular in modern Punjabi music.
Dhad:
Description: Low bass, mellow tone.
Dhad is a small percussion instrument of the Damru style.
Algoje/Jori:
Description: Low to high pitch, beautiful tune.
A magical instrument!
Dafli:
Description: Light ringy tune.
The dafli, also popularly known as daf, dappler or tambourine, is a must for weddings.
Damru:
Description: This is a particular version of the Damru.
Damru is one of the attributes of several Hindu deities and gods, particularly of Shiva.
Sarangi:
Description: Stringed, high and low tunes.
The name Sarangi is said to mean 'sau rang' (100 colours) or 'sa rang' (colours whatever it touches).
Tumbi/Toomba:
Description: High stringy tunes.
The tumbi is a traditional Punjabi string instrument. Its one string can produce both high and low tones.
Chhika Sap:
Description: Clap stick sounds.
This is also used in Bhangra.
Chimta:
Description: Ring like sounds.
The chimta is another percussion instrument commonly used in the popular Punjabi form of music called bhangra.
Ghalar (Kato):
Description: High and low clap tunes.
The simple earthen pitcher serves as a musical instrument in a number of folk songs.
Ghara (Ghatam):
This earthenpot (water-pot) is also used as a music instrument to create rhythm for some singing occasion.
Dilruba:
The Taus, a failrly large and heavy instrument, was designed and created by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.
Pakhawaj:
Pakhawaj is essentially a north Indian version of the mridangam and is the most common north Indian representative of the class of barrel shaped drums known as mridang.
Rabaab:
The Rabaab is a plucked instrument made of wood. It has a double belly, the first being covered with parchment and the second with wood.
Tanpura:
Tanpura is a drone instrument with four strings, three of steel and the fourth of brass.
Tabla:
Tabla is the most popular percussion instrument of Hindustani music.
Santoor:
The Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from Kashmir.
Saranda:
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606), fifth Sikh Guru, was a master musician and musicologist.
Sarode:
The Sarode, named SAROD-DHAYAK-VINA in Sanskrit, was invented by Bharat Muni.
Sitar:
The name of the instrument is derived from the Persian expression ‘seh-tar’ meaning 3 strings, which is the number of strings the instrument originally had.
Taus:
Taus means ‘peacock’ in Persian and is derived from sitar and sarangi.
Bansuri (The Bamboo Flute):
The bansuri is one of the oldest and most original instruments.
