General Awareness ยท Social Science

Indian Music and Instruments

2,130 Questions

Indian music and instruments encompass a rich variety of traditional percussion, string, and wind tools used across regional cultures. This collection features questions on folk drums, devotional instruments, and classical accompaniments. It is a crucial Art and Culture topic for SSC, UPSC, and State PSC exams.

Traditional folk drumsDevotional music instrumentsClassical dance accompanimentPercussion instrumentsRegional musical instruments

Indian Music and Instruments Questions

Multiple choice

Which Indian musical instrument is known for its long, fretless neck and distinctive sound?

  1. Sitar

  2. Sarod

  3. Santoor

  4. Rudra Veena
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sitar is a stringed instrument with a long, fretless neck and a gourd-shaped body. It is known for its distinctive sound, produced by sympathetic strings that resonate with the main strings. The sitar is a popular instrument in Hindustani classical music and is often used in devotional music and folk music as well.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the sitar as a primary instrument?

  1. Maihar Gharana

  2. Senia Gharana

  3. Imdadkhani Gharana

  4. Vishnupur Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Imdadkhani Gharana is known for its mastery of the sitar, with notable exponents like Vilayat Khan and Ravi Shankar.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the tabla as a primary instrument?

  1. Farrukhabad Gharana

  2. Benares Gharana

  3. Delhi Gharana

  4. Ajrara Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Delhi Gharana is renowned for its mastery of the tabla, with notable exponents like Zakir Hussain and Alla Rakha.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the sarangi as a primary instrument?

  1. Kirana Gharana

  2. Gwalior Gharana

  3. Agra Gharana

  4. Patiala Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Gwalior Gharana is known for its mastery of the sarangi, with notable exponents like Pt. Ravi Shankar and Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the bansuri as a primary instrument?

  1. Maihar Gharana

  2. Senia Gharana

  3. Imdadkhani Gharana

  4. Vishnupur Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Senia Gharana is known for its mastery of the bansuri, with notable exponents like Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pt. Ronu Majumdar.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the pakhawaj as a primary instrument?

  1. Farrukhabad Gharana

  2. Benares Gharana

  3. Delhi Gharana

  4. Ajrara Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Farrukhabad Gharana is renowned for its mastery of the pakhawaj, with notable exponents like Pt. Kishan Maharaj and Pt. Samta Prasad.

Multiple choice

Which gharana is associated with the use of the santoor as a primary instrument?

  1. Maihar Gharana

  2. Senia Gharana

  3. Imdadkhani Gharana

  4. Vishnupur Gharana
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Vishnupur Gharana is known for its mastery of the santoor, with notable exponents like Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Multiple choice

Which ancient Indian instrument was used for measuring time?

  1. Ghati

  2. Palika

  3. Danda

  4. Yantra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ghati was a water clock used in ancient India to measure time. It consisted of a vessel with a small hole in the bottom, and the time was measured by the amount of water that flowed out of the hole.

Multiple choice

The Jal Tarang, a musical instrument, is made of how many bowls?

  1. 5

  2. 7

  3. 9

  4. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Jal Tarang is a musical instrument made of seven bowls filled with different amounts of water, which are struck with sticks to produce different musical notes.

Multiple choice

The Veena, a stringed instrument, has how many strings?

  1. 4

  2. 7

  3. 12

  4. 16
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Veena is a stringed instrument with seven strings, which are plucked to produce music.

Multiple choice

The Tabla, a percussion instrument, consists of which two drums?

  1. Tabla and Dholak

  2. Tabla and Pakhawaj

  3. Tabla and Mridangam

  4. Tabla and Ghatam
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Tabla is a percussion instrument consisting of two drums, the Tabla and the Pakhawaj, which are played together to produce rhythmic beats.

Multiple choice

The Sitar, a stringed instrument, is played with what?

  1. A pick

  2. A bow

  3. Fingers

  4. A plectrum
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Sitar is a stringed instrument played with a pick, which is used to pluck the strings to produce music.

Multiple choice

The Tanpura, a stringed instrument, is used to provide what in Indian classical music?

  1. Melody

  2. Rhythm

  3. Harmony

  4. Drone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Tanpura is a stringed instrument used in Indian classical music to provide a continuous drone, which serves as a reference point for the other instruments.

Multiple choice

The Mridangam, a percussion instrument, is played with what?

  1. Sticks

  2. Hands

  3. A bow

  4. A pick
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Mridangam is a percussion instrument played with the hands, which are used to strike the drumhead to produce rhythmic beats.

Multiple choice

The Sarangi, a stringed instrument, is played with what?

  1. A bow

  2. Fingers

  3. A pick

  4. A plectrum
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Sarangi is a stringed instrument played with a bow, which is used to draw across the strings to produce music.