Carnatic music

Carnatic instruments, in Chennai.

The instruments of a Carnatic concert and the temple tradition, and where to find them in Park Town.

What a Carnatic concert needs

A Carnatic concert usually combines a vocalist or lead instrument with a violin for melody, a mridangam for rhythm and a tanpura for the drone. Temple and wedding music centres on the nadaswaram and thavil.

Saraswathi Musicals has supplied these instruments from Rattan Bazaar since 1965. Not sure where to start? Read what shruti means before you choose.

Wooden Instruments

Mridangam

மிருதங்கம்

The two-headed drum at the centre of a Carnatic concert.

String Instruments

Veena

வீணை

The instrument of Saraswathi, goddess of music and learning.

String Instruments

Violin

வயலின்

Central to Carnatic accompaniment, and loved in Western music too.

String Instruments

Tanpura

தம்புரா

The drone that every note is measured against.

Wooden Instruments

Thavil

தவில்

The barrel drum that carries every temple festival and wedding.

Wind Instruments

Nadaswaram

நாதஸ்வரம்

A long double-reed pipe made for open-air, auspicious occasions.

Wind Instruments

Wooden shruti box

ஸ்ருதி பெட்டி

A bellows-driven drone, built for the practice room.

String Instruments

Mandolin

A small, bright, plucked instrument with paired strings.

Call +91 86954 44653 Visit the shop

Carnatic instruments, in Chennai.

What a Carnatic concert needs

Mridangam

Veena

Violin

Tanpura

Thavil

Nadaswaram

Wooden shruti box

Mandolin

Ask us about the instrument you need.