Swar Systems establishes themselves as "the vanguard in Indian music software," and who am I to argue? To cement its reputation, Sway Systems has released a collection simply titled Volume 4 which brings a new set of 25 rare instruments from throughout many of India's regions.

Though you're probably familiar with VSTi / Audio Units plugins, Reason NN-XT, Motive and Akai S1000 formats, you might not be familiar with the instruments themselves. While there are violins, mandolins and other instruments common in Western music, there are definitely some pieces that haven't jumped the Atlantic so successfully. Here's a little lesson.

Rabab

The Rabab is an Afghani plucked stringed instrument used quite a bit in the Kashmir region. Because of its sustain properties, it can sound very similar to the human voice.

Ravanhattha

The Ravanhatta (or Ravan Hatta) is a fiddle popular for Rajasthani folk ballads. It is played with a bow called the Dani which comes from Acacia wood, and its strings are made from horse tail.

Surbahar

The Surbahar has been around since 1825. It is also a plucked stringed instrument, and it might help to just call it a bass sitar.

Ektara

Only have one finger? Take up the Ektara. It's a one stringed instrument connected to a gourd or coconut with animal skin stretched over it. By applying pressure to various points on the neck, you can achieve different tones.

Swarmandal

Similar to an Autoharp or Zither, the Swarmandal is yet another stringed instrument. It can range from 24-30 inches by 12-15 inches and is usually used as a drone instrument to accompany vocals.

Khuang

Dating all the way back to 1300 AD, the historical Khuang is an indigenous Mizo percussion instrument made from a hollow tree wrapped with animal skin.

Halgi

The Halgi continues satisfying any animal-skin-audiophile looking for some percussion. It's basically a skin framed on metal and a couple of wooden sticks and is played by striking the instrument with one stick while holding it using the other.

Pung

The Manipuri has over a millennium of experience, very important to Manipuri dance. It's a drum with a very long body, and both ends of this drum are covered in cow skin.

Manipuri Dhol

Volume 4 also helps save cow skin by delivering a virtual version of the Manipuri Dhol. This instrument, used widely in Manipuri folk dance uses cow skin for both the sides and the ropes.

Nishan

Coming straight out of Sambalpur, the Nishan is a rhythm instrument played with a pair of sticks that are called Chitma. The Nishan itself is made out of iron sheets with sides covered in more cow skin.

Bihu Dhol

For those of you unfamiliar with Bihu, you're missing out on some of the finest Assamese dancing this side of Guwahati. It's a double sided barrel drum that provides percussion for the dance.

Daphli

Giving a rest to bovines, the Daphli is a wooden percussion instrument covered with goat skin. Originating in Rajasthan, the Daphli is played as pitched percussion as varying pressure on the skin changes the note.

Khartaal

The Khartaal is a two piece wooden instrument. Also widely used in Rajasthan, Khartaal is the Indian equivalent to Spanish castanets.

Eddaka

The Eddaka is an hourglass-shaped percussion instrument hailing from South India. It's got goat skin sides that are tied loosely by ropes. To play the instrument the Eddaka is struck while the ropes are being pulled.

Khol

The Khol is a drum made out of terracotta, and it's popular in northern and eastern India to accompany devotional music. The Khol can use either goat OR cow skin for its sides, but there are rules -- the goat or cow must have died naturally.

Surnaii

The Surnaii introduces wind instruments into Volume 4's mix. Used primarily by Pathans, it's similar to an oboe. It's basically a reed instrument with a cone-shaped body featuring seven holes on top and one on the bottom.

Tutari

Shaped to curve like the trunk of an elephant, the Tutari is a wind instrument from Maharashtra. It was once used to sound out the arrival of a king over the entire kingdom.

Pepa

Another Assamese instrument featured is the Pepa, which is similar to a flute. It is typically made from a short stem of bamboo.

Been

The Been is a wind instrument used in snake charming. Interestingly enough, it's made out of stone apple fruit and features one tube that holds out a drone note and another that handles the melodies.

Algozay

Goat herders in Punjab use the Algozay traditionally, but this wooden beaked double-flute wraps up these exotic wind instruments. Like the Been, one flute plays a drone while the other creates melody.

And that's all for today.