Why
Did The Beatles Play Indian
Musical
Instruments ?
Musical
Instruments from
India
There are
many different styles of music in
India and regional preferences. A
wide variety of Indian musical
instruments give different sounds
to classical, popular and folk
music. Some of these instruments
are very old.
Western
instruments are used too
sometimes. Violins can be heard
in some classical recordings and
the harmonium is used in some
popular music. Three basic types
of home grown instrument is used;
strings (plucked, bowed or
struck), wind and
percussion.
The Sitar
is the most familiar instrument
in the West. This is because The
Beatles and other rock bands used
it during the 1960s and 1970s.
George Harrison studied under the
prominent player, Ravi Shankar.
It is
difficult to learn to play and
constant practice is required.
There are sympathetic strings to
complement the normal strings. In
India, it is played in Hindustani
classical music. This is a
traditional form, which evolved
in the North.
The Sarod
is another classical string
instrument. It has twenty five
strings, is similar to a lute and
is played with a
plectrum.
Percussion
is very important to Indian
composers. The Tabla is very
popular; again one of the Indian
musical instruments to be
familiar to Beatles devotees, and
is played in Indian classical,
religious and popular music.
Tabla is a
pair of hand drums that vary in
size and tone. Another form of
percussion called the Dhol is
played mainly in the Punjab and
Gujarat districts. It is a double
sided barrel drum and is used in
religious music and to set the
rhythm for dance
music.
Flutes are
used a lot and with several
different versions. The Bansuri
is an alto flute that is used in
Pakistan as well as India. It is
made from a single length of
bamboo and has six or seven open
finger holes. It's mostly played
in Hindustani classical
music.
Folk music
is an ancient form with many
styles. There are some Indian
musical instruments, with a very
distinctive sound, that have no
real equivalent in the Western
world. The Sarinda is a three
stringed folk instrument that is
played with a bow.
There is a
rich cultural heritage in India
and the music reflects the
history and beliefs of the
people. Unfortunately, most
people in the West only get to
hear the more pop influenced
Indian songs, as background music
in curry houses.
Other forms
are worth exploring. Of all the
instruments from India invented,
the Jal Tarang has to be the
strangest. It's a series of rice
bowls, each tuned according to
the level of water they contain.
It's not heard much these days,
which is a pity. Perhaps U2 could
make use of it on their next
album? Perhaps you
too!
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