Sitar

Indian music · stringed instruments · classical music

Invented in the 1700s. A musician named Khusrau Khan created the sitar during the Mughal Empire in India. He based it on an earlier Iranian instrument called the setar, giving it new strings and a special shape.

Lots of strings. Unlike guitars, sitars have many more strings that create a shimmering, ringing sound. Some strings are played, while others vibrate along to create that signature twangy tone.

Heart of Indian music. The sitar became the main instrument for Hindustani classical music, a beautiful tradition from northern India that has been performed for centuries.

Traveled the world. In the 1900s, famous sitar players like Ravi Shankar introduced the instrument to countries across Europe and North America, making Indian music known everywhere.