sitar

sitar, stringed instrument of the lute family. It is one of the most popular instruments in Hindustani classical music and has gained global popularity over the years.

History

There are several theories about the origin and evolution of the sitar. Some argue in favor of a Persian origin, owing to the similarity between the word sitar and the Persian word sehtar, which describes a three-stringed lute. Others believe that the sitar has a link with the long-necked lutes from Central Asia, while some suggest a connection with an Indian stringed instrument, the veena.

Britannica Quiz

Sound Check: Musical Vocabulary Quiz

The sitar flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries and arrived at its present form in the 18th century. Today it is one of the dominant instruments in Hindustani classical music; it is used as a solo instrument with the tambura (drone lute) and tabla (drums) and in ensembles, as well as an accompaniment to the northern Indian form of dance-dramas, kathak.

Parts of a sitar

A sitar typically measures about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length. Its round, resonant, hollow base (tumba) is traditionally made from dried gourd. The long wooden neck (dand or dandi), also hollow, is joined with the round base using a wooden structure (gullu). A flat plate (tabli) covers up the front of the hollow base. Usually 20 movable convex metal frets (pardahs) are tied along the neck and are positioned in accordance with the notes of a particular raga (melodic framework of the performance). The number of frets may vary according to gharanas (schools or traditions of music with different places of origin and varying playing techniques and styles).

The strings are metal, and one set runs above the frets and another below it, closer to the surface of the neck. The number of sitar strings vary according to the style of the sitar. Typically, a sitar can have 6–7 main strings, which include melody and drone strings (used to accentuate the rhythm or pulse), above the frets and 11–13 sympathetic strings (tarab or taraf) beneath the frets. Some sitars also have an additional tumba under the pegbox end of the neck. This adds resonance, balances the weight of the instrument, and helps support it when it is not being played.

Playing the sitar

Sitar players usually sit cross-legged, with the right leg above the left, and hold the sitar at a 45° angle, placing the round base on the curve of the left foot. The right-hand thumb is placed at the lower end of the neck, and the strings are plucked with a wire plectrum (mizrab) worn on the right forefinger while the left hand manipulates the strings with subtle pressure on or between the frets and with sideways pulls of the strings.

Access for the whole family!

Bundle Britannica Premium and Kids for the ultimate resource destination.

Subscribe

The two basic strokes with the right hand are da—an inward pluck—and ra—an outward strike of the string. When da and ra are played in quick succession, the stroke is called diri.

Worldwide popularity

The sitar has become one of the best known South Asian lutes worldwide. In the 1960s the sounds of South Asian instruments, especially the sitar, influenced a number of rock performers. George Harrison, the lead guitarist of the Beatles, received lessons on playing the instrument from sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. The band featured the instrument on such songs as “Norwegian Wood” (1965), “Love You To” (1966), and “Within You Without You” (1967). The Rolling Stones member Brian Jones also played the instrument for the group’s track “Paint It Black” (1966). Other musicians of the period imitated sitar sounds on the guitar; some used an electric “sitar” that modified the instrument for ease of performance but preserved its primary tone color. In the early 21st century Shankar’s daughter Anoushka Shankar became a prominent sitar player and has collaborated with musicians from around the world.