Surbahar
Surbahar is a traditional stringed musical instrument from India. The surbahar, an instrument often associated with Hindustani classical music, is related to the better-known sitar but has a lower tone. The surbahar is over 130 cm (51 inches) long, uses a pumpkin as a resonator, andhas a neck made of teak with very long frets that allow a glissando of 6 notes on the same fret by the method of pulling. Its neck is made of tun, (Cedrela tuna) or teak wood. The neck is fixed on a large pumpkin used as a resonator, and the instrument can emit low frequencies (less than 20 Hz). The Surbahar has 4 rhythm strings (cikari), 4 play strings (the thicker is 1mm in diameter) and 15 to 17 unplayed sympathetic strings. All these strings lay on a flat bridge. This type of bridge considerably amplifies the sound and the spectrum, as the vibrating string hits the flat part of the bridge. The strings are played by way of a metallic plectrum fixed on the index of the right hand, the mizrab.
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