
Indian Tribal Music is a mystical form of experience that best depicts the rich heritage of the country. Indian Tribal Music is considered to be a version of house
music. The music is mostly accompanied by drum-beats, with no presence of specific melody. The tribal music beats are based on sophisticated and synchronised drum patterns, establishing a rhythm. The instruments utilised in Tribal Music are not as refined as the ones used in
classical music.
Evolution of Indian Tribal Music
The tribal music in India witnesses much of lyrical chanting and traditional sounds, comprising contemporary musical variations. The aboriginal, ethnic tribal music is reproduced live with
drums, in accompaniment with other
musical instruments. Tribal music in India is not taught the same way as classical music. It has a hereditary process of learning. The music is passed down from generations to generations. However, as time and tastes have changed, variations in the current form are foreseeable.
Features of Indian Tribal Music

Indian Tribal Music with its closed-group form of ethnicity is remarkable in the sense that it can never be studied in isolation from the social and ritual contexts of the people concerned. Tribal music possesses a well-built
community basis. The fact can be comprehended in the domains of musical-socialisation, levels of participation and nature of specialisation. Music amongst the
Indian tribes is not conceived as exclusive property of its individual members, but of the community as a whole. Learning music in a typical
tribal society forms a cardinal part of the entire process of association of its members. It is learnt together with the umpteen
customs and practices by the society. Any given tribal community, initiated its children in learning music, i.e., singing, drumming or
dancing, from an early age. Children from the
Santhal tribal society are initially supplied with the ‘
Katic Murli’ (small sized
flutes) of 5 to 6 inches in length with 3 to 4 envoys to blow and the drums of smaller size to beat.
Indian Tribal Musical Instruments
The Indian Tribal musical instruments are generally manufactured by the
musicians themselves, making use of materials like coconut shells,
animal skin, pots, etc. The instruments used in Tribal Music include horse hair
violin, duduk,
bamboo flutes,
santoor,
sitar, etc.
(Last Updated on : 06-02-2018)