The Gopichand, also called gopiyantra, is special to Bengal. A bamboo cane is split in 2 lengthwise but kept whole at one end. The lower ends of the 2 arms are fixed to the sides of a small wooden cylinder with a skin base. A string of steel tied to a knob at one end passes through the centre of the skin and the free end is attached to a peg on top of the bamboo. Both the arms are held in the left hand and alternately pressed and released, changing the pitch, while the string is simultaneously plucked with the right hand.
The gopichand is used by religious mendicants for accompanying pastoral songs and is a favourite instrument of the bauls of Bengal. The instrument is used mainly as a rhythm instrument.
