Surya Sound

I play (better or worse) many instruments. The only instrument which I played - like people told - really well (but it was in seventies...) was the electric bass. I play - I guess decently- guitar, and then sitar, Indian flute “bansoori”, mandola, Middle East lute ”saz” , bouzouki, other ethnic lutes , zither, percussion... I have collected a small “museum” of instruments (about 150), however I bought all of them with the intention to play them. In facts, only a few I have not at least once used. Here their list - except those commonly known, like the classical, acoustic, electric guitars and electric bass which I have several, too.

Sitar

An Indian stringed instrument from the family of lutes (to which belongs also the guitar). It is a combination of a Persian instrument called "sehtar" ("three strings") and an ancient Indian instrument called "vina". Sitar has 1 melodic string, 5 - 6 strings of accompaniment and about 11 - 12 strings of resonance (sympathetic strings). Sometimes for playing the melody can be used also main strings of accompaniment. The sympathetic strings should be tuned to a select scale; during the execution they add to the notes played on the melodic string a reverberation. The bridge (on which are fixed the strings) is made in a particular way, so it causes a vibration of the strings, characteristic for the sitar.

Zither

One of the most ancient instruments of the world (it is mentioned also in the Old Testament). It is a box of wood on which they are fixed the strings. The box can have different forms and dimensions. The sound of zither is similar to that of the harp.Also the technique of playing can be similar. They exist some particular types of this instrument, for example with a fingerboard (similar to that of the guitar) or such which is being played with the bow ("fidola").

Bansuri

An Indian bamboo flute. It has 7 holes - one for blowing and 6 for fingers. The principal scale of this instrument is equal to the European major scale. Covering only the half of the holes it is possible to obtain semitones (half notes). It is possible to obtain (and it is often used) the effect of the glide, it means a fluid passage from a note to an other.

Saz

A stringed instrument from the family of lutes. It has 2 double strings and one triple. Each one is tuned to the unison (in prime or octave). Popular in Turkey, Siria, Iraq, Iran and other countries of the Middle East.

Panduri

A stringed instrument from Georgia. It belongs to the family of lutes. It has 3 strings of nylon and wooden frets (frets of typical Western instruments are made of metal) and for that panduri has a characteristic soft sound. My panduri has 12 frets in an octave, because it was made especially for me. Usually it has 7 frets in an octave, therefore no Western melody could be played on it - only those Georgian. A similar division of the octave in 7 notes we can find also in other countries, for example in Indonesia.

Flute of Pan

A set of pipes, tuned in a concret musical scale (for example in C-major). It was known already in the ancient times, for example in Greece. Its name originates from the Greek Lord Pan that usually was represented with this instrument. Popular in different parts of the world, for ex. in the Balkan and Andes countries . In these last it is called “zampona”.

Chonguri

A stringed instrument from Georgia (Caucasus). It belongs to the family of lutes. It has 3 strings of nylon and has no frets (therefore can be obtained the effect of glide).

Shamanic drum

Frame drum, known in most of world's cultures, round or oval.

Sitaradd

An instrument constructed by Andrzej Dudek - Durer, based on sitar, but with slightly different sound and possibiliteis.

Charango

A South American instrument from the family of lutes. My charango has 5 double strings of nylon.

Quena

An Andes countries flute of bamboo. It has 7 holes for fingers.

Fretless guitar

I have a few such guitars which with 6 strings, without frets. The lack of frets allows to obtain different effects, among them the glide.

Dizi

A Chinese flute of bamboo. Similar to the bansoori.

Balalaica

A Russian instrument from the family of lutes. It has 3 strings of metal and a triangular resonance chamber.

Tanbur

Stringed instrument from Middle East, member of lutes family. It has a very long neck, round box, two double strings and one tripled.

Oud

An Arabic stringed instrument from the family of lutes. My oud has been made in Morocco and it has 5 double strings tuned to the unison (in prime) and 1 single bass string.

Sarod

Fretless indian instrument from lutes family. It has 6 - 7 main strings and over of dozen resonating strings. The resonating box is covered with leather (like in banjo), and the neck covered with metal plate.

Domora

Instrument used in the area of former Soviet Union (mainly in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus), stringed, a member of lutes family. It has 3 strings and round resonating box.

Santoor

An Indian instrument of Persian origin. It is a psaltery, similar to the Hungarian instrument "cimbalom" (which perhaps originates from the santoor). It has a big resonance chamber on which are fixed many strings (it can be about 100). Played with special wooden sticks.

Bouzouki

A Greek stringed instrument from the family of lutes. It has usually 4 double strings, of which each pair is tuned to the unison (in prime or octave).

Esraj

An Indian stringed instrument, similar to sitar, but played with a bow.

Dilruba

An Indian stringed instrument, very similar to esraj.

Khim

Thai stringed instrument. A kind of cymbal.

Djembe

Wooden drum from West Africa.

Crotals

Indian bells of metal. They produce a long, vibrating sound.

Tabla

Set of two indian drums.

Bodhran

An Irish frame drum, it means without a resonance chamber. The skin is attached to a wooden hoop.

Singing bowls

Tibetan bowls of metal which can be played by beating them or by rubing them on the edges with a special rod. In this last way it is possible to obtain some very particular, vibrating sounds, little similar to the human voice.

Rain stick

It is a branch of tree, excavated and then partially filled of seeds, grains of sand or similar things. If we move it, the instrument makes a sound which is similar to that of the rain drops which flow down on the leaves of trees or bushes.

Tampura

An Indian instrument from the family of lutes. It is being used only for the accompaniment. It has 4 - 7 strings of metal which are tuned usually to the tonic and the dominant of the scale which should be used by other instruments or voice.

Darabuka (darbuka, darbukka)

Ceramic or wooden arabic drum.