Musical Instruments of Rajasthan
The vast array of Rajasthani folk insturments is made ingeniously from a variety of materials. Shells of dried gourds of all shapes and sizes are used forgorse stems or bamboos segments for flutes and baked clay pots for drums. Conch shells are blown to produce full, resonant sounds, sticks create a rasping rhythms and ghungroos (brass bells) jingle on waists and ankles.
The Stringed Instruments
Sarangi :- The Sarangi is the the most important folk musical instrument and is found in various forms in Rajasthan.
Ektaara :- The Ektaara is also a single string instrument, but it is mounted on the belly of a gourd attached to a body made of bamboo.The Galaleng Jogis of Dungarpur and Banswara have twin gourded Kendru appears akin to the ancient Kinnari Veena, and it has often been called the Keengri in Rajasthan literature.The Chautara, also called the Tandoora or Nissan , is also a popular five stringed drone and beat instrument used as an accompaniment to devotional music and for the Terathali dance.
Wind Instruments
Algoza :- These are the numerous instruments that are played by blowing into them.Rajasthan folk music has many variations of the flute. The Peli of the Meos of Alwar is a short flute, to the music of which the Ratwai is sung in a high pitch.The Algoza, common in the Tonk-Ajmer areas, is two such flutes played together. The Kathodis use the Pawri, a flute of bamboo held vertically. The Bhils use a short flute in some of their dances. Ceremonial music is provided by Nafeeri and Surnai, both rudimentrary forms of the shehnai .Then there is the Poongi of the snake charmers and its adaptation by the Langas called the Murla. Both have two tubes, one for the notes and the other for the drone.
Matka :- The Matkas of Pabuji and the Ghada are a pair of huge earthenware pots,their mouths covered with membrane. One player plays each Matka, and the Bhopas use it to accompany their singing. The whole effect is heightened by the graceful dance of the player.