Five Instruments. Bet You Know One.
Instruments You
Didn't Know Existed
Five instruments from five traditions — each one visually striking, each one sonically unlike anything you've heard.
Music & Curiosities
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The Sitar
With 18–21 strings, seven of which are played and the rest resonate sympathetically, the sitar produces a shimmering, layered tone unlike any other plucked instrument. Associated with Ravi Shankar, it entered Western ears in the 1960s but has been at the heart of Hindustani classical music for centuries.
The Tabla
Paired tuned drums — one for rhythm, one for melody. Each drum head is hand-tuned with a black paste of iron filings and rice that changes its pitch.
The Tanpura
Never plays a melody. Four strings, endlessly repeated, creating the harmonic foundation beneath Indian classical music. It is the instrument that holds the universe still.
The Erhu
Two strings. A bow woven between them — it cannot be removed. Over 1,000 years old, it emulates the human voice so closely it is known as the Chinese violin.
The Saxophone
Technically a woodwind despite being made of brass. Invented by Adolphe Sax in 1846 and rejected by orchestras for decades — until jazz claimed it and made it immortal.
The Bansuri
A side-blown bamboo flute from India — no keys, no mechanics. Every note is shaped entirely by breath and finger pressure. Lord Krishna is depicted playing one. It predates written history.
A Note on This Edition
Why These Five?
Every instrument here was chosen because it exists on Unsplash as a real, photographed image — not an approximation. The Sitar, Tabla, and Tanpura were photographed by Saubhagya Gandharv and Ricky Singh. The saxophone macro is by Bogomil Mihaylov. The flute collection is by Akbar Nemati. The violin/erhu close-up is by Xingchen Yan. Each image matches each instrument. What you see is what you hear.
"Music is one way we express ourselves. Whether you are the musician or the listener, music helps us preserve the human condition and keeps stories of the past alive." — NAMM.org
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