Musical Instruments of Pakistan

ALGHOZA
This instrument consists of a pair of flutes of nearly the same length and width. One
flute is used for a continuous drone, while the other is played to produce a melody. The
alghoza has six holes.
The alghoza originated in Sindh, but its popularity has spread all over Pakistan. Many
of the tunes presented on this instrument are composed in the raga Bheem Pilasi,
which is sung soon after sunset. Bheem Pilasi emanates a romantic mood and is an
intense expression of longing and waiting for the beloved.

BANSURI
The bansuri, or flute, is one of the most primitive instruments of Pakistan. It is
played by holding it horizontally against the lips. It has six holes, which are
closed and opened with the finger-pads in accordance with the melodic
phrases. The thumb below supports the flute. The typical flute has a slanting
mouthpiece that can easily rest between lips. The notes of the higher register
are produced by accurately controlling the apertures and by contracting the lips
to blow a narrow stream of air.
Sain Allah Ditta Qadri is known for his flute playing, and Salamat Hussain is a
meritorious flutist who has won the President's Pride of Performance medal.
CHIMTA
The chimta is a pair of fire-tongs still used in Pakistani homes. The
chimta used by performers is approximately one metre long. It is
played by hitting the tongs against each other and slapping a large
iron ring at the bottom against the tongs. Popular in Punjab and
Sindh, it is used mostly as an accompaniment to folk and mystic
songs.

DHOL
The Dhol or drum, which means "lover" in some regional languages, is a rhythm
instrument enjoying wide popularity in both town and countryside.
The Dhol was originally used for communication over long distances for community
announcements and to summon congregations. Today, the instrument is played on
a variety of occasions, such as folk festivals, dances, horse and catel shows, rural
sports, wrestling matches, weddings, etc.
The Dhol is a two-headed, hollowed-out piece of wood covered with goat skin. It is
beaten with wooden sticks and is certainly an instrument of great antiquity.
GHARA
The Ghara of Punjab (dilu or changer in Sindh, mangay in NWFP,
and noot in Kashmir) is actually a baked clay pitcher normally used for
storing drinking water. Used to produce a fast rhythm, it is one of the most
primitive percussion instruments known.
The height of a ghara ranges form 30 to 35 centimeters, with a girth of 80 to
90 centimeters. The diameter of the mouth is 8 to 10 centimeters. A
metallic ghara is known as a gagar or matki. The performer sits on floor,
places the instrument in front of his knees or on his lap with its mouth up, and
beats the side wall with the fingers of the right hand while the left hand
strikes the mouth to produce a stronger ground beat.
Ghara is also used by village people as a float for swimming. The swimmer holds the hollow pot under
Musical Instruments of India
1. Sitar
Sitar is one of the most popular India classical music instruments.
Sitar has a long neck with twenty metal frets and seven cords.
These frets are adjoined with thirteen strings which are tuned to
the notes of raga. A round shape or a gourd which acts as a
sound board is grounded at the lower end of the neck of the
sitar.Renowned sitar players who have established themselves
playing sitar are Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Abdul Halim Zaffar Khan
and many more.

2. Flute
Whenever we pronounce or imagine flute, the first image that pops
into our mind is the image of Lord Krishna and the melody which is
associated with the instrument. Hence, it proves the importance of
flute which is associated with Indian music since time
immemorial.Flute is an instrument which provides exuberance in the
mind and soul. Flute is structured into cylindrical tube of uniform bore.
To produce sound, one must hold the holes with fingers of left and right variations. Similarly,
variations of pitch are generated by the length of air column.Pt Pannalal Ghosh and Pt Hari
Prashad Chaurasia are considered as the best curator of flute playing in India.

3. Shehnai
Shehnai is a traditional Indian musical instrument where one can
hear the melodious music in occasions like marriages and
temple processions.Shehnai is a double reed instrument with a
tapering bore which progressively increases towards the lower
side. The Shehnai has finger-holes to produce micro-
tones.Ustad Bismillah Khan is the unrivalled maestro of the
Shehnai.

4. Tabla
The most popular musical instrument used in North India is the Tabla.The Tabla consists of a
pair of drums – one is the Tabla and the other is the Bayan. The Tabla is made of wood and its
upper portion is made of stretched animal skin. The tuning of
Tabla can be adjusted by striking the rim of the Tabla with a small
hammer.The Bayan is the bass drum and is made of metal where
the upper portion is a stretched skin. Both drums have a black
spot in the center made of manganese or iron dust. Tabla is
mainly occupied by harmonium which is also a well-known Indian
classical instrument. 
Musical Instruments of Arabia

Buzuq

Levant and Iraq. A long-necked fretted lute with metal strings and a
carved sound-box. Often associated with itinerant players. May be
derived from the Turkish saz.

Guenbri, ginbri, hajouje

North Africa. A deep three-stringed wooden bass instrument,

sometimes with an added wooden resonator. Fretless, with a
long cylindrical neck and a sound box covered with skin. In
Morocco, often used by Gnawa musicians.

Jawzah

Iraq. A four-string spike-fiddle. Sound box is part of a coconut

shell covered with skin. One of the instruments traditionally
used to accompanymaqam singing.

Kaman, kamanjah

Nowadays this is the term for a western-style violin (though tuned to Arab
musical requirements). Previously it referred to an Iranian violin, played
vertically, which had been adopted by the Arabs. It is also a name sometimes
given to the rababah.
Musical Instruments of Israel
Oud Since the 9th century the musical tradition of the Mediterranean Sea was
based in great part on the Oud. Often called the prince of Arab instruments, it is
an ancient stringed instrument which probably originated over 3,500 year ago in
Persia. A similar instrument is shown in Egyptian paintings and was used in the
times of the Pharaohs. The Arabic name, Al Oud, means wood - specifically thin
wood. The strings were originally made of gut and are now often made of plastic.
The moors or the Crusaders carried the Oud to Spain, where it entered Europe as
the lute ("al-ud") and was ultimately transformed into the 6 stringed fretted
guitar. The Oud sound box is pear shaped, and it has a relatively short handle and
no frets.The precise shape and dimensions differ throughout the Arab world, as
do the number of strings - up to six and even seven.

The Jumbush is an instrument that looks very much like a banjo. It originated in
Turkey and the Balkans. The instrument has six doubled strings and a fretless
grip. Its body is made from light metal with stretched skin.

The darbuka (or doumbek or tablah) is an hour-glass-shaped drum popular

throughout the Middle East. The drum head or skin is stretched tight with
rope or leather thongs or even nails. The body may be made of copper,
ceramic, pottery or wood. It is used a great deal in belly dancing music. Learn
more about Arts Midwest World Fest online at
http://www.artsmidwestworldfest.org An oud maker in Cairo, Egypt. Photo by
Flickr user tronics. Phot