Musical instruments extensions of human expression that have shaped cultures across centuries. Over time, certain instruments have become closely tied to legendary musicians who created a legacy. India has given the world some legendary musicians including Pandit Ravi Shankar made the sitar internationally known, Ustad Zakir Hussain transformed the tabla into a global rhythm, and Dr. L. Subramaniam showcased the expressive power of the violin. Their mastery continues to inspire learners and listeners worldwide. Keep reading the article to get to know about the Famous Musical Instruments and their Exponents.
Famous Musical Instruments and their Exponents
From the sitar and tabla to the violin and flute, every instrument has had legends who’ve taken it to new heights. List of Famous Musical Instruments and their Exponents is discussed below.
Famous Wind Instruments and their Exponents
The table below includes the List of Famous Wind Instruments and their Exponents who mastered them.
Famous Wind Instruments and their Exponents | |
Wind Instruments | Exponents |
Harmonium |
Shri Purushottam Walawalkar, Appa Jalgaonkar, Jnan Prakash Ghosh |
Flute |
TR Mahalingam, Hariprasad Chaurasiya, N. Ramani, Pannalal Ghosh |
Shehnai |
Daya Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Ali Ahmad Hussain |
Nadaswaram |
Rajaratanam Pillai, Sheikh Chinnamaula, Neeruswami Pillai |
Famous Percussion Instruments and their Exponents
The table below includes the List of Famous Percussion Instruments and their Exponents who mastered them.
Famous Percussion Instruments and their Exponents | |
Percussion Instruments | Exponents |
Ghatam |
TH Vinayakram, EM Subramaniam |
Kanjra |
Pudukottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai |
Tabla |
Zakir Hussain, Sabir Khan, Allah Rakha, Pt Kishan Maharaj, Sandeep Das, Ustaad Shafaat Ahmad Khan, Pt Jnan Prakash Ghosh |
Pakhawaj |
Totaram Sharma, Gopaldas, Ramshankar Pagaldas, Pt Ayodhya Prasad |
Mridangam |
SV Rajarao, KV Prasad, Palghat Mani Iyer, Palghat Raghu, Karaikudi R Mani |
Famous String Instruments and their Exponents
The table below includes the Famous String Instruments and their Exponents who mastered them.
Famous String Instruments and their Exponents | |
String Instruments | Exponents |
Guitar |
Braj Bhushan Kabra |
Mandolin |
S Balamurali Krishna, Nagen Dey, Khagen Dey, U Srinivas |
Rudra Veena |
Asad Ali Khan |
Piano |
V Balsara |
Been |
Asad Ali Khan |
Vichitra Veena |
Abdul Aziz Khan, Ahmed Raja Khan |
Mohan Veena |
Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhat |
Santoor |
Bhajan Sopori, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pt Tarun Bhattacharya |
Sarangi |
Abdul Latif Khan, Ustad Binda Khan, Ramesh Mishra, Sultan Khan, Pt Ram Narayan, Shakoor Khan |
Sitar |
Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pt Ravi Shankar, Shujaat Hussain Khan, Shahid Parvez Khan, Anushka Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Mustaq Ali Khan, Budhaditya Mukherjee |
Sarod |
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Allaudin Khan, Bahadur Khan, Zarin S Sharma, Sharan Rani, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan |
Violin |
Lalgudi Jayaram, VG Jog, M Chandrasekharan, NR Murlidharan, MS Gopalakrishnan |
Musical Instruments Types
Musical Instruments come in many forms, each with its own sound and style. To make things easier, they’re usually grouped into four main types which are discussed below in brief:
Percussion Instruments
Instruments that create sound when they are struck, shaken, or rubbed fall under the category of percussion instruments which are mentioned in the table below
Percussion Instruments | |
Instruments | Name of the Instrument |
Percussion Instrument |
Mridangam |
Drums |
|
Xylophone |
|
Snare Drum |
|
Tabla |
|
Triangle |
|
Cymbal |
|
Bass Drum |
|
Maracas |
|
Chimes |
|
Tambourine |
|
Timpani |
|
Marimba |
Keyboard Instruments
Keyboard Instruments produce sound through the pressing of keys, which trigger hammers, strings, air, or electronic signals depending on the instrument type. Some widely recognized keyboard instruments include:
Keyboard Instruments | |
Instruments | Name of the Instrument |
Keyboard Instruments |
Harmonium |
Celeste |
|
Piano |
|
Claviola |
|
Pipe organ |
|
Accordion |
|
Harpsichord |
|
Organ |
|
Harmonica |
|
Synthesiser |
Brass/Wind Instruments
Brass/Wind Instruments produce sound when air is blown into a tube, creating vibrations that resonate through the body of the instrument. Here are some well-known examples:
Brass/Wind Instruments | |
Instruments | Name of the Instrument |
Brass/Wind Instruments |
Flute |
Mouth Organ |
|
Piccolo |
|
Trombone |
|
Euphonium |
|
Oboe |
|
Bassoon |
|
Trumpet |
|
Saxophone |
|
Tuba |
|
Bassoon |
|
French Horn |
|
Cornet |
|
Clarinet |
String Instruments
String Instruments create sound when their strings are plucked, bowed, or struck, causing vibrations that resonate through the instrument’s body. Some of the most well-known String Instruments include:
String Instruments | |
Instruments | Name of the Instrument |
String Instruments |
Guitar |
Violin |
|
Cello |
|
Harp |
|
Sitar |
|
Veena |
|
Mandolin |
|
Viola |
|
Lute |
|
Banjo |
|
Ukulele |
Important Musical Instruments and their Exponents
From classical legends to cultural icons, the table below includes the List of Important Musical Instruments and their Exponents they’re known for.
Important Musical Instruments and their Exponents | ||
Instrument | Description | Indian Exponents |
Harmonium |
Harmonium is a keyboard instrument that blows sounds through reeds. |
Shri Purushottam Walawalkar, Appa Jalgaonkar, Jnan Prakash Ghosh |
Flute |
Flute is a wind instrument, and makes sound through air vibrations. |
TR Mahalingam, Hariprasad Chaurasiya, N. Ramani, Pannalal Ghosh |
Tabla |
Similar to drums, Tabla is a common percussion instrument played in Asia. |
Zakir Hussain, Sabir Khan, Allah Rakha, Pt Kishan Maharaj, Sandeep Das, Ustaad Shafaat Ahmad Khan, Pt Jnan Prakash Ghosh |
Sitar |
Used in Hindustani classical music, Sitar is a plucked string instrument. |
Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pt Ravi Shankar, Shujaat Hussain Khan, Shahid Parvez Khan, Anushka Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Mustaq Ali Khan, Budhaditya Mukherjee |
Guitar |
A six-stringed fretted instrument, guitar is a famous international string instrument. |
Braj Bhushan Kabra |
Last updated on August, 2025
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Famous Musical Instruments and their Exponents FAQs
Q1. Who is known for playing the sitar in India?+
Q2. Which artist is associated with the tabla?+
Q3. Who is a famous exponent of the sarod?+
Q4. Which instrument is L. Subramaniam famous for?+
Q5. Who is the maestro of the shehnai?+