er than the Sitar in length and has a clearer, rounder tone. The sarode is capable of both long slides and fast percussive phrases. The Santur is the relative of the hammered dulcimer of Europe. Stories of a shatatantri vina, or one hundred string Vina, of the ancient past are widely recorded. However, the origins of this instrument are still shroud in mystery. The Santur consists of a finely finished trapezium shaped box, with metal strings run across the top. The strings are usually grouped in three strings per note, called courses. Each of the courses are surported by a small wooden bridge, which alternate on either side of the top. Each course is sounded by striking it with a pair of light wooden mallets. It has been used for over one thousand years. The Tabla is the principal drum, of North Indian music. It is actually a pair of drums played with fingers and wrists of both hands. The right hand, smaller, high-pitched drum is called Tabla, and the left hand one, the Bayan or Dagga. The set is able to produce a wide range of different pitches and tone colors. The Bayan in particularly is reconizable for it low and colorful pitch effects. The instruments of Indian classical music fall into two main categories: those that carry the main melody and those that accompany. Of the many other melodic instruments, the most prominent are the plucked lutes, sitar and sarod in the north and vina in the south; the transverse flute basri; and the double reeds shahnai and nagasvaram. Accompanying instruments serve three functions: to provide a drone, to provide a secondary melody, and to keep time and give rhythmic support. For the drone the most common instrument is the long-necked lute, tambura. In the south, the Western violin is used to provide a secondary melody; as well as the bowed lute sarangi and the hand-pumped keyboard harmonium in the north. To keep time and provide rhythmic support the Carnatic system uses the double-ended drum mridan...
