The Sitar is the favourite
string instrument in India and has retained its present from for
some 600 years.To half of a gourd,a flat hollow wooden neck is
fastened; this is the fingerboard .A second gourd attached to
the upper end of the fingerboard serves to amplify the volume
of sound. The instrument has 20 metal frets,some of which is may
be adjusted acording to the tonality. Over the fret the seven
primary strings are streched,beneath extend up to 12 resonance
strings. A wire plectrum (the MIZRAB) worn on the right index
fingers is used to pluck the strings, particularly the first and
second (the melody string),and the sixth and seventh (the CHIKARA
strings).The index and middle fingers of the left hand,both slightly
oiled,finger the notes.The singing sound of the Sitar arises when
the first string on a fret is pushed sideways to achieve a higher
tone; the sound is similar to that of a glissando or a vocal portamento.
This typical way of producing the sounds is called MIR.
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