Sitar




Sitar is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from India during the 16th and 17th centuries and popularly used in Hindustani classical music. Typically measuring about 4 feet in length, sitar has a deep pear-shaped gourd body; a long, wide, hollow wooden neck; both front and side tuning pegs; and 20 arched movable frets. Its strings are metal; there are usually five melody strings, one or two drone strings used to accentuate the rhythm, and as many as 13 sympathetic strings that are tuned to the notes of the raga.