Sarod
A stringed instrument from northern India that is three to three and a half feet long. The instrument has a round head, with a resonating chamber made of teak wood and a parchment or skin belly soundboard that is attached to a triangular neck and fingerboard. The fingerboard has a thin polished metal sheet covering and is fretless, allowing the player to execute meends, or sliding of the pitch. The modern sarod has twenty to twenty-five metal strings; fifteen tarab (sympathetic) strings; four main strings; three chikari (jhala), raised strings that provide a rhythmic drone; and three thaat strings that are tuned to the raga that is being played. The instrument is played with a plectrum, fashioned from coconut shell, in the right hand, while the left hand is used on the upper neck of the instrument. The sarod has its origins in Indian and Afghan lutes, and, more particularly, the rebab of the Middle East. It also was developed from the sursringar and veena stringed instruments. The present form of the sarod developed in the nineteenth century. The word sarod is linked to the Sankrit shorode (good noise), the Persian sarrod (melody), and Arabic sahrood (music) as well as to the word swarode (music) from Bengal.
Further Reading
Krishmaswamy, S. (1967) Musical Instruments of India. New Delhi: Publications Division, Government of India.
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