Musical instruments in folk music are often different from those found in classical music. Although instruments like the tabla may sometimes be found it is more likely that cruder drums such as daf, dholak, or nal will be used. The sitar and sarod which are so common in the classical genre are absent in the folk music. One often finds instruments such as the ektar, dotar, saringda, rabab, and santur. Quite often they will not even be called these names, but may be named according to their local dialect. There are also instruments which are used only in particular folk styles in particular regions. These instruments are innumerable.

The instruments that folk musicians use are generally not as refined as the classical musicians use. The instruments of classical music are crafted by artisans whose only job is the fabrication of musical instruments. In contrast the folk instruments are commonly crafted by the musicians themselves.

It is very common to find folk instruments that have been fabricated of commonly available materials. Skin, peritoneum, bamboo, coconut shells, and pots are but a few commonly available materials used to make musical instruments



FOLK MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Bansuri - bamboo flute
Bombashi - bamboo fipple flute
Chimpta - fire tongs
Daf - frame drum
Damaru - hourglass drum
Dhol - large barrel drum
Dholak - barrel drum
Dholki - barrel drum
Dotar #1 - simple lute
Dotar #2 (a.k.a. dotora) - simple lute
Ektar - simple lute
Gettuvadyam - hammered lute
Ghatam - clay pot
Ghungharu - small bells
Gopichand - one stringed instrument
Idakka and Udaku - hourglass drums
Kamancha - simple fiddle
Kartal - wooden clappers
Khol - clay drum
Magadi Vina - bamboo lute
Murchang - jaw harp
Naggada - kettle drums
Nakula - bamboo lute
Pena - simple one string bowed instrument
Pung - drum
Pungi - snake charmer's instrument
Rabab - lute
Ravanhasta - simple fiddle
Santur - hammered dulcimer
Saringda - simple fiddle
Shankh - conch shell
Thanthi Panai - pot drum

Here some more details on few of the instruments used in folk music. (http://www.beatofindia.com)




Rawanhattha - Said to be one of the oldest known string instruments, it is rare to find it now-a-days. Made of a long piece of bamboo set into a dry coconut, it has one main playing string and many others for a drone. It is played with a bow and is still popular in Rajasthan, especially with the Bhopa community.




Algoza -A double flute made of bamboo, the algoza works on the same principle as a bagpipe and is a tricky instrument to master. One of the two flutes usually plays a continuous drone while the other plays different notes. The player has to master the art of breathing without letting the sound of the algoza break even for a bit.




Bansuri (Flute) - Also known as the flute, it hardly needs any introduction given its global popularity. It is a simple bamboo stick with one hole to blow into and 6, 8 or 9 holes for producing the notes.




Been - Made popular by snake charmers, it has 2 pipes made of wood, bamboo or metal and set into a gourd. One produces a drone and the other can produce many notes using the holes. Great stamina is required to play it.




Harmonium - One of the most popular and widespread instruments today, the Harmonium is a foreigner to India. Similar to the organ in its functioning, the Harmonium needs no tuning but a lot of practice for its playing.





Shehnai - is a double reed instrument with a pipe that has seven holes and a trumpet of brass or copper attached at the end. So popular for creating background music at weddings, that it is almost synonymous with them. Mostly used for playing classical msuci, It is played as a folk instrument in many parts including the hills of Himachal.

Tambur / Chautara - A variation of the Ancient Ektara, the Chautara is one of the oldest string instruments. It is made of wood with a base usually of Gourd and has four strings that can be tuned to different pitches. It is played with two fingers and produces an accompanying drone.




Riwana - a beautiful carved instrument made of wood that is getting quite rare these days. This version is played by musicians in the Himachal hills. Much like a guitar, it is played with a pick in one hand and pressing the strings against the fret board with the other.




Toomba - A two stringed instrument quite like the single stringed Ektara. It is primarily a drone instrument though skilled players produce many notes with it. The wires are stretched across a bamboo set into a gourd with a skin covering its side.




Sarangi - a very important string instrument used in both the folk and classical styles. Its sound is considered to be the closest to the human voice. Made with a hollow piece of wood, covered by a parchment, it usually has three main playing strings but several others for a drone. It is played with a bow.




Violin - A western version of the Sarangi perhaps, the violin has been incorporated into many folk artistes repertoire for its soulful sound. We found it accompanying many of the Bhajan mandalis in the Malwa belt.




Sarangi - The Sarangi has many variants. What we found in the Mathura area of Uttar Pradesh was a simpler version of the Sarangi, with a smaller round head, fewer strings and ghunghroos attached to the bow.




Ektara - There are many kinds of Ektaras though the name literally means one wire and so that is its main component. It could be stretched across a thin bamboo set into a gourd or a wooden base. It is played in many parts but is especially popular with the Baul fakirs of Bengal.




Khamak - A small instrument capable of producing a very interesting sound, it is a one sided small drum with the other side left open to insert a string. Pulling the string to alter the tension of the side stretched with a goat skin changes the sound.

Dhol - Synonymous with Punjabi music, especially nowadays, it is a large two sided drum made of wood. The left side is coated to give it a heavier sound. Tightened cords with metal rings keep the sides taut and wooden sticks are used to play it.




Dholak - One of the most important percussive instruments accompanying folk music all over the country. It is made of a cylindrical barrel hollowed out of a block of wood with equal-sized open ends covered with goatskin. It is played on both sides with the fingers sometimes with sticks.




Mridang - Another two sided drum, it is usually longer than the dholak and is considered be one of the oldest instruments. The left side is larger and coated with a material, even wet flour in the most basic instruments, to produce the heavier sound.




Kansi - A one sided drum with the other side left open, it is played with one hand and kept taut with the help of cords and metal rings. This version is played in the hills of Himachal.




Dhak - A large two sided drum, it is not commonly found. This version was found in southern Rajasthan. Fairly complex to play, it requires the use of the feet to tighten the cords to produce different notes and the hands to strike it.




Hudka - A descendent of lord Shiva's Drum, the Damru, a Hudka is the most important instrument in the hills of Uttranchal. Made of wood in an hourglass shape, it is covered by a goatskin on both sides. The player hangs it on one shoulder and controls the tension of the goatskin by pulling it farther from his shoulder or bringing it close.




Dhad - a small hour glass shaped drum, the dhad is very popular in the folk music of Punjab. Cords tighten its two goat skin sides and the player produces different notes by tightening its cords with one hand while tapping the side with the other.




Timki (Bongo) - a bongo that has been adapted for use with the folk songs of many regions including Malwa. It consists of a pair of one sided drums played with wooden sticks.




Kartal - The word Kartal literally means rhythm of the hand. Made of wooden blocks with holes for the fingers and circular copper plates, pairs of Kartals are played with both hands. Kartals usually accompany religious music.

Dabo - a large drum that is held up with one hand and played with the other. This version was found in the highest reaches of the Himalayas in the Spiti region.




Thali - Literally means a metal plate and that is exactly what it is. Turned upside down and played with two sticks, it provides simple percussion. It is very popular in Uttaranchal.




Manjira - The most inexpensive and easy to play Instrument, the Manjira accompanies all kinds of singing, especially devotional. It is made of two small copper plates tied together with a string. Hitting one against the other at its edge produces its high pitched sound.




Chimta - The name is taken from the household tongs and the instrument itself is a long iron strip bent double and small metal discs attached to its length. When the arms are struck against each other, the discs produce a loud clanging sound. Most often the chimta accompanies the Bhanra dance.




Nakkara - a large one sided drum made of metal, the Nakkara is traditionally a war drum, used to herald the arrival of kings. Its skin is kept taut with leather strips stretched across its body and it is played with wooden sticks.




Khanjari - A circular piece of flat metal with smaller discs attached to its rim that produce a clanging sound when struck with the palm of the hand.

Very informative link. Thanks so much. Besides these there is also the kanjira, or one-handed drum as played by Selva Ganesh. And there's the (now rare) jaltarang, which means 'waves in water', where sound is created through small cups placed in water and struck by bamboo sticks with cotton ends
I particularly like watching players of kartal (wooden-clappers)... their sitting position is unique, as they kneel down with their body in forward motion (as if they're about to begin a 400 m race), and when they play they have a dancing movement of the body. You often find them in Sufi music and qawwali concerts, besides Rajasthani folk music. Because of their showmanshap the kartal players usually get a huge round of applause

A short demo of the Kartal as described by Mr. Kusnur.



The Jaltarang + Kathak fusion



The mastery of Selvaganesh on the Kanjira

Posting the missing ones..

Bulbul Tarang



Bulbul tarang, also known as the Banjo is a common instrument in India. The name bulbul tarang literally translates to "waves of nightingales". It is made of a number of strings passing over what resembles a finger board. However instead of directly fingering the keys, they are pressed with a series of keys like a piano. Sometimes the keys are similar to a piano keyboard but more often they resemble typewriter keys.

Chimpta



The chimpta is actually a fire tong. However, it has evolved into a musical instrument by the permanent addition of small brass jingles.

This instrument is especially popular in Punjabi folk music and the Sikh religious music known as Shabad.

Gopichand



The gopichhand, also, known as gopiyantra or khamak, is a very popular folk instrument of Bengal. It is an instrument that is much used by the wandering minstrels known as the Baul.

There are several variations on the construction. The length may be as small as one foot or as long as three feet, however 2-3 feet is the norm. It consists of a length of bamboo that is split through most of the length. The two ends are pried apart and attached to a resonator. This resonator may be a coconut, gourd, metal container or a hollowed out cylindrical section of wood. The open end of the resonator is covered with taught skin and a string penetrates the centre. This string is attached to a reinforced section in the centre. This string then passes through the hollow of the resonator and attaches to a tuning peg located in the bamboo.

The sound of the gopichand is most distinctive. There is a peculiar bending of the pitch as the two legs of the bamboo are squeezed together by the left hand while the right hand plucks the string. This is a rhythmic instrument rather than a melodic instrument and it is used to accompany instruments such as kartal, dotar, or khol.