General Awareness ยท Social Science

Indian Music and Instruments

2,230 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

The Veena is a:

  1. Percussion instrument

  2. String instrument

  3. Wind instrument

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

The Veena is a plucked string instrument with a long neck and a gourd-shaped body, commonly used in Carnatic music and electronic music.

Multiple choice

What is the primary instrument used in traditional Indian trance music?

  1. Sitar

  2. Tabla

  3. Dhol

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

The dhol is a double-headed drum that is commonly used in Indian trance music for its powerful and rhythmic beats.

Multiple choice

Which Indian musical instrument is known for its unique sound and is often used in Indian classical music and film scores?

  1. Sitar

  2. Tabla

  3. Sarangi

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

The Sitar, a stringed instrument, is renowned for its distinctive sound and is widely used in Indian classical music, Bollywood film scores, and even Western music.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a major musical instrument in India?

  1. Sitar

  2. Tabla

  3. Guitar

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

Guitar is not a major musical instrument in India.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a traditional percussion instrument used to accompany Odissi dance performances?

  1. Tabla

  2. Mridangam

  3. Pakhawaj

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

Pakhawaj is a traditional percussion instrument used to accompany Odissi dance performances.

Multiple choice

What is the traditional musical instrument used in Sattriya dance?

  1. Tabla

  2. Sitar

  3. Mridangam

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

The traditional musical instrument used in Sattriya dance is the Khol.

Multiple choice

What is the traditional musical instrument used in Odissi dance?

  1. Tabla

  2. Sitar

  3. Mridangam

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

The traditional musical instrument used in Odissi dance is the Pakhawaj.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common instrument used in Bollywood music?

  1. Sitar

  2. Tabla

  3. Violin

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

The sitar, tabla, and violin are all commonly used instruments in Bollywood music. The piano is less commonly used, as it is not a traditional Indian instrument.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common percussion instrument used in Bharatanatyam music?

  1. Mridangam

  2. Tabla

  3. Dholak

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

The mridangam is a double-headed drum that is commonly used in Bharatanatyam music to provide rhythmic accompaniment.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the main melodic instrument used in Bharatanatyam music?

  1. Veena

  2. Sitar

  3. Sarangi

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

The veena is a plucked string instrument that is considered to be the main melodic instrument in Bharatanatyam music.

Multiple choice

Which of these instruments is typically used to accompany Mohiniyattam performances?

  1. Tabla

  2. Sitar

  3. Mridangam

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

The mridangam, a percussion instrument, is commonly used to provide rhythmic accompaniment in Mohiniyattam performances.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a traditional musical instrument used in Kuchipudi?

  1. Mridangam

  2. Veena

  3. Tabla

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

Tabla is a traditional musical instrument used in Kathak, not Kuchipudi.

Multiple choice

Bharatanatyam is often performed to the accompaniment of Carnatic music. What is the traditional percussion instrument used in Carnatic music?

  1. Mridangam

  2. Tabla

  3. Dholak

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

Mridangam is the traditional percussion instrument used in Carnatic music.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a traditional musical instrument used in Kathak?

  1. Sitar

  2. Tabla

  3. Sarangi

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

Sitar is a traditional musical instrument used in Hindustani classical music, not Kathak.

Multiple choice

Bharatanatyam is often performed to the accompaniment of Carnatic music. What is the traditional string instrument used in Carnatic music?

  1. Veena

  2. Sitar

  3. Sarod

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

Veena is the traditional string instrument used in Carnatic music.