Sitar

Sitar, late 19th Century

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sitar parts

Sitar mogara

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Sitar taraf pegs layout

Sitar jawari

Sitar is a plucked string instrument known for its deep, resonant sound and complex playing technique. Originating from the Indian subcontinent, the sitar has been a prominent instrument in Hindustani classical music for several centuries. Its distinctive sound is characterized by its sympathetic strings, long hollow neck, and a gourd-shaped resonator.

History

The origins of the sitar can be traced back to the Persian sehtar, meaning three strings. It evolved over the centuries in the Indian subcontinent, incorporating various design changes and influences from other musical traditions. The modern sitar emerged in the 18th century, gaining prominence in the royal courts of India. Its design was refined in the 19th and 20th centuries, notably by musicians such as Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar, who played pivotal roles in popularizing the sitar both in India and internationally.

Design and Structure

The sitar typically has 18 to 21 strings, with six or seven played strings that run over curved, raised frets, and the remainder being sympathetic strings (tarb) that run underneath the frets and resonate in sympathy with the played strings. The instrument's body is made from a gourd, with a long, hollow wooden neck and a flat wooden soundboard. Metal frets are tied to the neck, allowing them to be moved to adjust the tuning.

Playing Technique

Playing the sitar involves a technique called meend (gliding between notes), which is facilitated by the instrument's movable frets. The player plucks the strings with a metal pick worn on the finger, known as a mizrab. The sitar is played sitting down, with the instrument resting on the player's left foot and the neck leaning against the left shoulder. The complex playing technique and the rich, nuanced sound of the sitar allow for the expression of a wide range of emotions and musical ideas.

Musical Role and Repertoire

The sitar is a key instrument in Hindustani classical music, used for playing ragas—complex musical frameworks for improvisation and composition based on a scale with a given set of notes, a typical order in which they appear, and specific melodic movements. The sitar's repertoire includes both alap (a slow, improvised introduction that explores the raga) and gat (a faster, rhythmic composition).

Influence and Legacy

The sitar gained international fame in the 1960s, largely due to the efforts of Pandit Ravi Shankar and his association with popular Western musicians like The Beatles. George Harrison, the lead guitarist of The Beatles, learned to play the sitar and featured it in songs such as "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," marking one of the first instances of the sitar being used in Western popular music. This led to a surge in interest in the sitar and Indian classical music among Western audiences.

See Also

• Raga
• Hindustani classical music
• Indian musical instruments
• Music of India