From Tabla, Tanpura, Sarod and Sitar, identify the odd musical instrument based on its type.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks basic knowledge of Indian musical instruments and categorizes them by type. You are asked to find which instrument among the four does not belong with the others. Three are string instruments, while one is a percussion instrument. Understanding such classifications is useful in general awareness and reasoning sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The instruments listed are Tabla, Tanpura, Sarod and Sitar. Tanpura, Sarod and Sitar are well known Indian string instruments. Tabla is a famous Indian percussion instrument. We classify each instrument as either a string instrument or a percussion instrument.

Concept / Approach:
The central idea is to identify the family of musical instruments to which each option belongs. String instruments produce sound through vibrating strings that are plucked or bowed. Percussion instruments produce sound by being struck, tapped or beaten. In this question, three instruments belong to the string family, and one belongs to the percussion family. The one from a different family is the odd one out.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Tabla is a pair of hand drums widely used in Indian classical and popular music. Sound is produced by striking the drum surfaces with hands and fingers, so it is a percussion instrument. Step 2: Tanpura is a long necked string instrument that provides a continuous drone background in Indian classical music. The strings are plucked gently during performance. Step 3: Sarod is a fretless string instrument used in Indian classical music, played by plucking the strings with a plectrum while pressing them along a metal fingerboard. Step 4: Sitar is another famous Indian string instrument with a long neck and many strings, some for melody and some for resonance, played by plucking. Step 5: Tanpura, Sarod and Sitar all produce sound through vibrating strings and are clearly string instruments. Step 6: Tabla, on the other hand, produces sound through struck drum heads and belongs to the percussion family. Step 7: Therefore, Tabla does not fit the string instrument category and is the odd one out.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by asking how each instrument is played. Tanpura, Sarod and Sitar are plucked with fingers or a plectrum, which confirms their string nature. Tabla is played by striking, which is characteristic of percussion instruments. There is no way to classify Tabla as a string instrument, so the distinction is clear and unambiguous.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tanpura is not the odd instrument because it is a string instrument, just like Sarod and Sitar. Sarod is not the odd instrument because it belongs to the same string family as Tanpura and Sitar. Sitar is not the odd instrument because it is also a string instrument. Tabla is the odd instrument because it is a percussion instrument, not a string instrument.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to treat all classical Indian instruments as belonging to a single group without considering their method of sound production. Another pitfall is to be misled by the fact that all four instruments are often used together in classical music settings. To avoid such errors, always classify instruments by how they create sound, such as through strings, air columns or percussion surfaces.

Final Answer:
The instrument that is not a string instrument and is therefore the odd one out is Tabla.