Aerophone
Assamese
Pepa(The Horn-pipe) : It has four constituent parts : (i) Chupahi (embouchure), (ii) Bulanibindha or Garbhanola (inserting pipe), (iii) Mokhani or Mokhora (covering of the embouchure) and (iv) Sing (Buffalo Horn) or mouthpiece. Its embouchure is made from rush, reed or bamboo branches. It has four holes in the inserting pipe and is hidden with the covering. Air is blown through it to emit sound. Twin-horn pipe is another variety. The penpa is unavoidable in Bihu songs.
Muruli (flute): It is a kind of wind instrument made from a slender piece of the frontal part of a bamboo having a node. A hole is bored near the node which acts as the embouchure. It is played by blowing air through the round hole horizontally. It has six holes in the body. Nearly all the tribes of northeast India use Muruli of different sizes in accompaniment with their songs and dances.
Banhi (flute) : It is a variety of the Muruli differing in its embouchure which is fitted at the mouth with the help of a square hole and is played by blowing air vertically. It is generally played by the cowherd. It is known by various names among different tribes.
Baghdhenu (Cross-bow) : It is made of aspie of light bamboo about 2 ft. long. A rope about 3 cubits is attached to a notch cut at one end of the stick. When the bamboo spike is twirled over the head by holding the rope with the hand it emits a howling sound. Though it is not accompanied with any type of music it is believed that the sound invokes rain.
Hutuli : It is made from sticky soil found from a crabs hole. It is hemispherical, having a bigger hole in the middle and two small holes on both sides. It is played in Bihu dance.
Gogona(The Jew’s Harp) : It is made from a piece of mature bamboo spike of 9 inches long and one inch broad. It is made tapering at one end. A tongue is cut out at the end. The Gogona is inserted between the lips and operated with the right-hand forefinger or with the help of a Muga string. It is believed that the sound of Gogona made of the weaver’s bamboo cylinder is more suitable. It is widely prevalent in accompaniment with Bihu dance and Bihu songs. The agricultural community believes that it invokes rain in drought season.
Karbi Tribe
Torlit : It is a clay pipe having two holes at the ends. Air is blown through the hole at the middle to emit sound. It is made in imitation of the sound of cicadas in order to invoke rain. Young boys play this and amuse in their slash-and-burn cultivation.
Muri-jangkek : In order to magnify the sound of Muri, a piece of bent gourd shell is attached to the embouchure with a covering.
Muri-tongpo : When the bottle gourd shell of the Muri-jagekek is substituted by a wooden cylinder it is called Muri-tong-po.
Bodo Tribe
Chiphung : It is very similar to the general Cherja or Charinda. It is equally popular among the Bodos. It is used in almost all songs and dances.
Rabha Tribe
Tutu : It is of two varieties prepared from soft bamboo tubes. It is either played by introducing it into the mouth or blowing air through the lips. It is played by the cowherds.
Gugubela or Gugumela : It is made of sticky soil in hemispherical shape. Out of its three holes the middle one is used for blowing while the other two are manipulated by fingers. It is played by cowherds in the leisure time of cultivation.
Lakhor-brangsing : This flute is made from a bamboo cylinder about 10 inches long and open at both ends. A hole is bored in the middle. It is generally played by Lakhor (cowherds) that is why it is called Lakhor-brangsig.
Karhanol : It is made from reed bamboo about 10 cubic long. The inner joints are perforated. Air is blown through one end to create musical sound. Often a mouthpiece is added to magnify the sound. Rabhas use this in their marriage and obsequial ceremonies. In some places they accompany this with songs and dances.
Sunga or Japkhara Banhi : It is a type of pepa often having different layers. Sunga is made by joining bamboo cylinders successively. It is also played in order to inform people on different occasions.
Mising Tribe
Bubung : It consists of two pieces of bamboo sticks one is 3 ft. long and the other 1 foot long having a breadth of 1 and ½ inches. It is connected by a 3 ft. long strong Muga thread. Holding the longer one with the right hand the shorter one is twirled over head. It emits a sweet sound ‘Buh-bunh’. It is believed that rain is invoked when it is played.
Gu-tik : It is the Gogona played by pulling with Muga thread. Its function is very like that of the Gung-gang.
Gowalporiya
Mukhbansi or Bombansi : One special kind of flute is used in worshiping Devi Manasa in the undivided district of Goalpara which is known as Muhbansi or Bombansi. It has a collar of Nalbamboo at its one end and when it is played air flows partly to continue the tune for a longer time.