Sitar
The
sitar is a classical
Indian instrument. It typically has a
gourd acting as the resonating chamber. A distinctive feature is the
frets, which are moveable (allowing fine variation in tuning) and raised (so that
'sympathetic' strings can run underneath the frets, giving a very lush sound). A typical sitar has 19 strings - 7 on top and and 12 under the frets.
Traditional approaches to learning the sitar involve a long period of apprenticeship under the tutelage of a master although nowadays it is possible to purchase books and videos to assist home learning. It was popularised in the West by The Beatles, whose guitarist, George Harrison, was inspired by Ravi Shankar.
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