Type of Instruments — Kritika Dhariwal

Type of Instruments

Experimental Type

Type of Melodies
Worldwide
2026

A recent live concert made me want to draw instruments as type—playing together, jamming together. This series is a typographic exploration of the instruments that hang together, creating the distinctive sounds of musical traditions from around the world.

Jazz is a highly expressive music genre that originated in the African-American communities in New Orleans (USA).

- Cello provides deep harmony and complex melodies
- Piano supports the soloists being high versatile
- Electric Guitar plays the rhythmic chords
- Drums provide tempo and pulse
- Saxophone is the voice of jazz, bending notes from soft whispers to powerful shouts

Inspired by: #equinoxquintet and ornithologyjazzclub

Hindustani classical music is a melodic tradition from the North of India. The Sitar, Tabla, Harmonium and Bansuri are played in different permutations.

- Tabla provides rhythm
- Harmonium supports the melody and plays vocal notes in unison
- Sitar plucks the main strings, echoing the singer’s melody
- Bansuri provides a soft background melody

Inspired by: theofficialnusrat and #zakhirhussain

Carnatic music is South India’s classic music tradition. Even though it focuses mostly on human voice, it is accompanied by a range of instruments to drive the rhythm.

- Mridangam is the king of Carnatic percussion
- Tambura lays the acoustic foundation
- Ghatam is made from a specialized clay mixture and is played in intricate rhythmic conversations with the mridangam
- Morsing is also known as a jaw sharp, acts as a rhythmic counterpoint

Inspired by: Thani

Guoyue is Chinese traditional music. It is accompanied by a range of instruments to drive the rhythm.

- Erhu has a deep melancholic sound
- Yueqin provides a bright strumming pattern that anchors harmony
- Guzheng provides harmonic support and percussive plucks
- Suona is like a trumpet. It has a loud, bold tone
- Luo is a bronze gong that produces either a deep or a high pitched sound depending on its size

Inspired by: Butterfly Lovers Erhu Concerto

I became a fan of Nordic Folk music after discovering the incredible band, Wardruna. It is deeply rooted in Norse mythology, landscapes of Scandinavia and communal storytelling. Known for its haunting melodies, rhythmic complexity, and unique instruments.

- Moraharpa is used to create resonant, textured layers and is a variant of the keyed fiddle
- Lur, made from either bronze metal or wood (similar to modern horns) is played using lip vibrations
- Drums provide a rhythmic pulse (tempo)
- Horns provide deep, resonant blasts of traditional Viking war horns

Inspired by: @wardruna (Bucket-list gig🤞)

Irish Trad refers to Irish Traditional/Folk music. It is characterized by lively jigs, powerful singing and is typically performed in informal community gatherings.

- Fiddle is the violin, played with a distinct rhythmic style
- Flute and whistle are high pitched woodwind instruments
- Bodhrán is traditional drum played with a wooden beater
- Bouzouki is a lute that provides rhythmic accompaniment and soaring high melodies
- Harp has a bright bell like, warm and sparkling tone. It is also the national symbol of Ireland

Inspired by: Dervish - Traditional Irish Music

Mandé Music or Griot music originates from the historical Mandé empire, spanning West Africa. It is characterized by lively jigs, powerful singing and is typically performed in informal community gatherings.

- The Kora is the most iconic 21 string harp famous for its polyrhythms
- Balafon is a wooden xylophone providing a distinctive natural undertone
- Tama also known as a talking drum, mimics the rhythms and pitch of human speech
- Sabar produces the bright, energetic acoustic beats played using bare hands or a stick

Inspired by: Word Beat 101