The terms gendang keling and gendang tarinai refer to an ensemble of 1 serunai, 2 gendang keling (so-called Indian drums) and 2 hanging gongs. This ensemble plays instrumental music. This instrumental music (the music itself is also called gendang keling or gendang tarinai) usually accompanies the dance known as tari inai which is danced during the wedding ceremony of staining the bride's hands and feet with henna ("upacara berinai"). The music and dance are also performed today for many other occasions such as state ceremonies andlocal festivals. This tradition as described above is found in Kedah and Perlis today.

Another type of dance, also known as tari inai, is performed in Kelantan at weddings, but using a different ensemble (1 serunai, 2 gendang, 2 canang, 2 tetawak and kesi). The dance tends to feature acrobatic-like stunts such as the dancer bending backwards to pick up paper money (usually RM10 bills) with his mouth.

In short, today there are 2 types of tarinai dance and music: 1) the east coast style (called tari inai) with ensemble as noted above, and 2) the west coast style found in Kedah and Perlis, with ensemble as noted above and with ensemble and music called either gendang keling or gendang tarinai.