How to Learn Sitar String Names
The Indian sitar dates back about 700 years. While the sitar contains up to 23 strings, you play only six or seven, and the rest are sympathetic strings that vibrate at the same frequency as the played strings. All strings are named, but the names of sympathetic strings depend on the tuning of the raga you play. Follow some basic steps to learn the string names.
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Instructions
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Look at the strings that pass over the fret. There will be six or seven of them. You play these strings. The remaining strings pass under the fret and are sympathetic strings.
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View the strings farthest from the sympathetic strings. These are the playing strings. On a sitar with seven played strings, called a Kharaj Pancham sitar, these are Kharaj and Baj Tar. The Kharaj, or bass strings, are Sa (low) and Pa (low). The Baj Tar strings are Sa and Ma. Pluck these strings with a metal plectrum to produce the melody. The remaining strings are Chikari strings, or drone strings. You may strum them, but they don't make a melody. They are Sa (high), Sa (middle) and Pa.
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Check the playing strings when there are only six of them, as on a Gandhar Pancham sitar. There are no Kharaj, or bass strings, to play. Instead, a fourth string, Ga, is added to the Chikari (drone strings). A sitar with this Chikari tuning (Sa, Sa, Pa, Ga) produces a chord when strummed. The Baj Tar, or melody strings, are Sa and Ma, and you pluck them.
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Turn your attention to the strings that pass under the fret. These are the sympathetic strings, or Tarafdar. You do not strum or pluck them. They resonate with the playing strings to produce extra tone. There are 13 Tarafdar in most concert sitars. For most purposes they are tuned as follows: Sa, Ni, Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa, Re and Ga, with the last three tuned to the upper range.
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Watch some of the videos on Chandra and David's sitar website to see where these strings are on the sitar and how they sound. One of the videos shows Ravi Shankar teaching John Lennon.
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Tips & Warnings
The sympathetic strings usually start with the note C sharp in European music. They are tonal, rather than a scale or chord.
The sitar player can't see frets like a guitar or violin player.
Names for sitar strings vary among the different regions of India. These are the most commonly used strings, but if you study sitar, you'll probably encounter different names.
Learning the names of the sitar strings isn't very hard. Learning to play them is. Allow plenty of time and be patient with yourself.
