| Category | Instrument Name | Key Features | Place/District |
| General Characteristics | | | |
| Modern Influence | Slowly being influenced by modern changes; authentic character is best observed in tribal areas. | (General) | |
| Training | Traditionally passed down from generation to generation, often in the absence of formal training institutes. | (General) | |
| Wind Instruments | | | |
| Common | ‘Ranasingha’, ‘Karnal’, ‘Turhi’ (Bugle), ‘Flute’ or ‘Bishudi’, ‘Algoja’ (twin flutes), ‘Shehnai’ or ‘Peepni’. | (General) | |
| ‘Bansuri’ or Flute | A bamboo flute, important in Indian classical music; Lord Krishna is traditionally considered a master. | (General); particularly among Gaddis and other tribal communities | Simpler and keyless; two main varieties: ‘Bansuri’ (six finger holes) and ‘Pulaha’ (eight finger holes, used predominantly in Carnatic music); cross-fingering common. |
| ‘Shehnai’ or ‘Mangal Vadya’ | Double-reed instrument common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran, made of wood with a metal bell; sound believed to create auspiciousness and sanctity. | (General) | Widely used in processions, temples, concerts, and marriages; similar to South India’s nadaswaram; typically 6-9 holes, employs one set of quadruple reeds. |
| ‘Been’ | | (General) | Played at weddings and auspicious occasions. |
| Ancient | ‘Kindari’; ‘Granrang’ and ‘Jamang’. | Mahasu area (Kindari); Lahaul-Spiti areas (Granrang, Jamang) | |
| ‘Kangdum’ (also ‘Kangling’) | Crafted from the thigh bone of a human corpse, decorated with silver and bronze work. | (Liturgical ceremonies) | Thigh bone of a pregnant woman is more valued, believed to produce a sound effective for conjuring benevolent spirits. |
| Stringed Instruments | | | |
| Common | ‘Ektara’, ‘Kindari Demtar’, ‘Saramyane’, ‘Robab’, ‘Sarangi’, ‘Jumang’, ‘Ruman’, and ‘Rumals’. | Lower and upper areas of the Pradesh | |
| ‘Sarangi’ | Bowed, short-necked string instrument from South Asia, used in Hindustani classical music; said to resemble the human voice most. | (General) | Capable of imitating vocal ornaments (‘gamaks’, ‘meends’); carved from a single block of tun (red cedar) wood; box-like shape with three hollow chambers (‘pet’, ‘chhati’, ‘magaj’); typically around 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. |
| Percussion Instruments | | | |
| Common | ‘Jhanjh’ (large cymbals), ‘Manjira’ (small cymbals), ‘Chimta’ (tongs), ‘Ghanta’ (gongs), ‘Ghariyal’ (various types of gongs), ‘Thali’ (plate). | (General) | |
| ‘Manjira’ | A pair of small hand cymbals; also known as taal, jhanj, jalra, khartal, or kartal. | (General) | Often accompanies devotional music and used in various religious ceremonies, especially bhajans; ancient instruments, usually made of bronze, brass, copper, zinc, or bell metal, connected by a copper cord; produce a shimmering tinkling sound. |
| ‘Chimta’ | Literally meaning tongs, evolved into a traditional percussion instrument with the permanent addition of small brass jingles. | (General) | Often used in Punjabi folk songs, Bhangra music, and Sikh religious music (Gurbani Kirtan); player holds the joint and strikes the two sides together to produce a chiming sound. Used with other instruments during religious functions, particularly while singing bhajans. |
| Bells | | | |
| Types | ‘Ghunghru’ (bells), ‘Khathal’ (a stringed instrument played with a bow with a bell), Wooden Cashtanets (kahdti), and bells. | (General) | |
| Drums | | | |
| Types | ‘Dhol’, ‘Dholku’, ‘Nagara’, ‘Dumamma’, ‘Dumanghat’, ‘Nagarth’, ‘Gadu’, ‘Doru’, ‘Hudak’, and ‘Dhaunsa’. | (General) | |
| ‘Dafli’ | Small round drums. | Gaddis (implied areas) | Played at weddings. |
| ‘Dhamak’ | Large drums. | Plains | Played at fairs; ‘Bharai community’ performs ritual playing. |
| ‘Dhol’ | Played using two wooden sticks, usually made of bamboo and cane wood. | Throughout the state | Popular; used at marriages, wrestling grounds, and recreations. |
