Indian musical instruments can be broadly classified into Stringed, Wind and Percussion categories; whereas other instruments like the Harmoium, Violin, Ghatam and the Jal Tarang instruments, do not fall under any of the categories. But yet, these are out of the many famous Indian musical instruments that are widely used in the indian classical music traditions.

String Instruments are musical instruments that produce sound via vibrating strings. When the string of the instruments are plucked, strummed or slapped, they generate the musical notes and this musical tone quality varies with the construction of the resonating cavity.


Wind Instruments generate a sound when a column of air is made to vibrate inside them. The frequency of the wave generated is related to the length of the column of air and the shape of the instrument, while the tone quality of the sound generated is affected by the construction of the instrument and method of tone production.


Percussion Instruments create sound, with or without pitch, when struck. The shape and material of the part of the instrument to be struck and the shape of the resonating cavity, if any, determine the sound of the instrument.