sitar - Art Sphere Inc.

The Sitar

Sitar became popular in the 18th century and arrived in India 19th century. There are many speculations of where and who invented the instrument. According to historians,Khusrau made the instrument from detar an Iranian instrument. Sitar became popular from the work of Ravi Shankar in the 20th century. According to Muslim tradition, sitar was invented by Amir husrow in the 13th century, but other scholars claim there is not enough evidence to support this. In the 18th century, the instrument got the shape it has today, a bowl made of wood and with metal frets.

The Sitar was used in Hindustani classical music, classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. Also used to set the mood of raga at the very beginning of a presentation. It was originally made from deer horn, ebony, or camel bone but modern versions are made of synthetic material.

Sitar can have 18,19,20, or 21 strings. 6 or 7 strings run over the curve. It has two bridges, a large bridge and a small bridge for sympathetic strings. To play the instrument, first, lift your right knee up so it’s directly in front of you, with your right foot still touching the floor. Your left leg should be bent under your right leg so the bottom of your left foot is facing up. Place the body of the sitar, also called the gourd, over the bottom of your left foot so it is resting in your foot’s arch. Keep your right knee raised—you’ll use it to hold up the neck of the instrument. the neck of the guitar should be at a 45-degree angle. Rest your right arm on top of the sitar’s body.Hold the neck of the sitar with your left hand. Place a mizraab, or metal pick, on your right index finger.

Music

The person who invented the Sitar was Khusrau Khan who was the Sultan of Delhi for approximately two months in 1320. Hailing from the Gujarat area, he was taken captive by the Delhi military during Alauddin Khalji’s campaign in Malwa in 1305.

Some of the modern-day contemporary famous players of this instrument are: Unsuk Chin, Jukka Tiensuu, Lou Harrison, Tim Risher, Daniel Bjarnason, Guus Janssen, and Christopher Adler

How do I play the instrument?

To play it, you need to play the sitar while sitting on the floor so you can use your whole body to support the instrument.

Is there special equipment needed for the instrument?

No special equipment is needed to play the Sitar.

How long does it take to learn?

It takes approximately 5 hours to learn the Sitar.

Are there any instruments similar to this one?

Yes, the Persian Setar is very similar to this instrument. It is a type of lute used in traditional Persian music. It is a three-string instrument but the modern instrument of it is four-string.

Rock with a Star!

Let’s enjoy the sound of this instrument through this wonderful performance.

This is a tutorial that teaches people how to play the sitar including mastering the sitting position.