Sitar

The sitar is a plucked string instrument from the Indian subcontinent. It is a central part of Hindustani classical music.

The instrument is known for its distinctive, ringing timbre. This sound is created by the complex interaction of many strings. Musicians use the sitar to perform intricate melodies and rhythmic patterns. It is a highly respected instrument in Indian musical traditions.

To understand how it works, one must look at its many strings. A sitar can have 18, 19, 20, or even 21 strings. Only 6 or 7 of these are played strings. These played strings run over curved, raised frets called or thaat. The remaining strings are sympathetic strings, known as taraf, taarif, or tarafdaar. These sit underneath the frets and resonate in sympathy with the played strings.

The instrument uses two bridges. The large bridge, or badaa goraa, is for the playing and drone strings. The small bridge, or chota goraa, is for the sympathetic strings. The wide, rounded bridge helps create overtones as the string vibrates. This shaping process is called jawari.

There are two main modern construction styles. The first is the instrumental style, often called the Ravi Shankar style. This style is usually fully decorated with floral or grape carvings. It often features celluloid inlays with colored patterns. It may also include a second resonator, a small tumba, on the neck. The second style is the gayaki style, named after Vilayat Khan. This style focuses on imitating the vocal style of singing.

Musicians choose between these styles based on their specific musical needs.

History shows that the sitar evolved significantly over time. Modern scholarship suggests it originated from the Persian setar. This was a small, three-stringed instrument of Abbasid or Safavid origin. An 18th-century figure named Khusrau Khan is often linked to its invention. The earliest written mention of the sitar is from the year 1739 AD. During the late Mughal Empire, the instrument took its modern shape. The neck became wider and the bowl was made from a gourd. Masid Khan added two more strings to the design. Later, Imdad Khan added sympathetic strings. Allauddin Khan eventually created the modern seven-string version.

Playing the sitar requires great physical skill and balance. The player balances the instrument between their left foot and right knee. This allows the hands to move freely without carrying the weight. The musician plucks the strings using a metal pick called a mizraab.

A specialized technique called meend is used for melody. The player pulls the main string down over the curved frets. This allows a range of seven semitones. This technique helps the instrument mimic the melisma of a human voice. This is a key part of the gayaki ang style.

In the mid-20th century, the sitar reached a global audience. Ravi Shankar was a key figure in this movement. Along with tabla player Alla Rakha, he introduced Indian classical music to the West. In the 1960s, George Harrison of the Beatles began studying under Shankar. This led to the sitar appearing on famous tracks like "Norwegian Wood."

Other bands like the Rolling Stones and Traffic also used the instrument. Ravi Shankar described this era as the "great sitar explosion." It became a major trend in Western popular music.

Today, the sitar remains a complex and evolving instrument. Construction materials include teak wood, tun wood, and calabash gourds. The bridges are often made of deer horn or ebony.

Some modern versions even use synthetic materials. The instrument connects deep musical traditions with global pop culture. It continues to be studied by master musicians and students alike. Its unique sound remains a bridge between different musical worlds.