Shrutibox

The Shruti also Surpeti, swar - peti, is a musical instrument that is used in Indian music for the production of Borduntönen for vocal accompaniment. The acoustic Shrutibox has Dielectric tongues, which are supplied by means of a manually operated bellows with air. In addition, an electrical model is used, the sound is generated by a synthesizer.

Design and style of play

Shruti means the 22 microtones ( Shrutis ), which in Indian music, the octave is divided and the root note ( tonic) of the modal scale ( raga ). The acoustic Shrutibox corresponds to the type an Indian harmonium without keys. The size of the flat wooden box is typically 26 inches in height, 35 inches in width and 11 inches in depth, according to other data 20 × 32 × 5 cm. At the front there are single flaps for the eight pipes. The range is one octave.

When playing air is pumped through the chest with his hand. The desired tone, the door is opened, you will hear a continuous tone. The range of the electric instruments is different.

The Shruti is a drone instrument for vocal accompaniment. In India they replaced in popular and devotional music the long-necked lute tanpura classical music. In the West, it is used to accompany throat singing.

Other Indian Borduninstrumente are the double reed instrument ottu (similar to the South Indian Nadaswaram ), the instrument used, among others, the snake charmers pungi, the one-stringed lute spit ektara and the zither without fretboard surmandal.