Overview

The sitar is a plucked string instrument popularized by Hindustani classical music. The instrument is typically 1.2 meters, or four feet, in length and is played sitting down with the instrument held at a 45-degree angle. The body of the instrument is a hollow pear shape made from a gourd with a long, wide, hollow neck. Sitars can have between 18 and 21 strings that are attached to side- and front-tuning pegs at one end and to one of two bridges at the other.

Sitar strings are made from wire of varying gauges. There are typically five to seven main strings that run along the raised, moveable frets on the neck of the instrument. There are also one or two drone strings used for rhythm and 10-13 sympathetic, or taraf, strings beneath the frets. Sympathetic strings vibrate independently when the main strings are played and produce a harmonic sound. The largest bridge, badaa goraa, is attached to the main strings and the drone strings, while a smaller bridge, chota goraa, is for the sympathetic strings.

Sitars are often made from seasoned toon wood or teak. The resonator(s) are made from gourd—either pumpkin, calabash or a wood replica. Bridge styles and materials vary depending on the preference of the musician or instrument maker. The same is true of the tabli, or soundboard. Altering the bridge to affect the quality of sound is called jawari, and is often achieved by filing down the bridge to a specific curve.

Originating in and popular throughout India, the sitar gained wider recognition in the 1950s through the music of famous sitar exponent Pandit Ravi Shankar. From the mid-20th century on, the sitar influenced worldwide rock, jazz and pop music. In addition to sitars now being seen in multiple musical genres, many string instruments are tuned to imitate the sitar.

History

The sitar was developed in the 1700s following the Moghul Empire, taking elements from the instruments veena, sehtar and tampura that were popular at the time. The instrument was also inspired by long neck lutes that originated from Central Asia. Following its inception, the instrument gained popularity in Hindustani and Carnatic music, achieving its modern form in the 18th century.

The invention of the sitar we know today is credited to Amir Khusru, an 18th century fakir. Khusru’s grandson, Masit Khan, continued his grandfather’s influence on the sitar and its music. The playing style of Masitkhani Gat was named for his slow, melodic compositions that influenced much of early sitar music. In the 19th century, the sitar underwent design changes by Amrit and Rahim Sen that are still in use today.

The 20th century saw significant changes to the sitar, namely the two distinct instrument types named for modern Sitar pioneers. The Ravi Shankar and the Vilayat Khan are both similar but have key differences that can be found in the next section. Additionally, an electric sitar was developed in the 1960s and is typically used in pop, rock and jazz music.

Types of sitars

There are two main types of sitar, each named after a famous sitar player from the 20th century. In addition to these two main types of sitar, there are countless variations and individualized instruments, both in construction and decorative design, as well as bass and electric sitars.

The first type is an instrumental style named for Ravi Shankar (RV). These sitars feature a second resonator made from a smaller gourd that is located at the top of the neck, attached to the back of the instrument. The RV is typically fully decorated with carvings and inlays and features extra bass strings, which produce a deeper sound.

The second is a gayaki style sitar, called a Vilayat Khan (VK). The VK sitar is smaller, less ornamental and features just one resonator gourd. The VK also has fewer sympathetic strings and no bass strings. This type of sitar has an additional string called a chickaree, which produces a rhythmic accompaniment. The Vilayat Khan sitar is favored by the Etawa gharana school of sitar playing.

The bass sitar, or surbahar, is larger than the two traditional types of sitars and uses thicker strings that produce a lower sound. The bass sitar has a wider neck and fretboard, allowing for the larger strings to be played without interference from the other strings. The electric sitar is not technically a sitar. The instrument is actually an electric guitar that has a special bridge and sympathetic strings that allow it to mimic the sound of a sitar.

Playing techniques / How to play the Sitar

The sitar is typically played while sitting with the instrument balanced between the musician’s foot and knee. Because the instrument is typically quite large, this allows the player’s hands to move freely without having to support the weight of the instrument. Players use a metal pick, or mizrab, to pluck the strings while anchoring their thumb on top of the fretboard.

Like many instruments, alternate playing techniques vary by school and individual. Some of the most common of those techniques are outlined below.

Meend, or mir, is a way for the player to glide between one note and another. Also called string bending, this technique is achieved by pushing or pulling the string against the curved fret. This creates a semitone, or half-step between one pitch and another.

Krintan is an ornamental technique similar to a pull-off technique on a guitar. The player pulls the second finger off the string being played while holding down their index finger on the fretboard just below. This motion can be used at the beginning or end of a note and can be performed in reverse, similar to the hammer-on technique of a guitar. When this technique is done on two strings at the same time, it’s called zamzama.

A flat stroke is a technique that allows the player to strike the sympathetic strings while playing the main strings. This can be done by striking the string in a Ra stroke while allowing the mizrab to strike the sympathetic strings. This effect can also be achieved by using the pinky of the left hand to flick the sympathetic strings while playing the main strings with the right hand.

Like playing techniques, there are also different techniques for holding the instrument, individual to the player. While the most popular position is to sit on a flat surface with the legs crossed, there are other ways to hold it. The sitar can also be played while kneeling or sitting in a chair and can be modified to be played by right- or left-handed musicians.

Mechanics

The sitar produces a number of different tones and pitches using different mechanics on the instrument. The melody strings can be tuned to different standards depending on the player's school, tradition or personal preference. Sympathetic strings tuned to the notes of the raga being played and are re-tuned for each raga. Each string is attached to a tuning peg that can be tightened to raise the pitch or loosened to lower it. The melody strings can be further fine-tuned by sliding a bead on each string near the bridge.

Additionally, the curved, metal frets along the neck of the sitar are tied on, making them moveable. The frets can be positioned to achieve one of the widest varieties of pitches of any string instrument. Drone strings are typically tuned to one pitch that is played continuously throughout a piece.

Notable musicians

There are countless great sitar players throughout history and current day. Below are some of the most talented and well-known sitar exponents from around the world: