Indian Musical Instrument | Discover insightful articles, guides & stories

Q: What is the difference between Calcutta and Bombay style drums?A: The main difference is in the heads. Simply put, Calcutta heads are thinner than Bombay (or Delhi or Benares or Hyderbad) …

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Q: I hear a rattling inside the gourd when I move my sitar. Is that common?A: Yes. The gourd is a natural, organic thing. It is perfectly common for small pieces to come off and rattle aroun …

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Q: Can I use a guitar tuner to tune my sitar?A: If you have to, it will get you in the ballpark, but not onto the playing field. Indian music does not use the tempered scale, so if you tune …

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Q: How high should my action be?A: As a rule of thumb, you should be able to put the fingernail of your pinky on the highest fret and feel the ma string gently touching your finger. Usually …

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Q: What type of wood are sitars made from?A: Almost all sitars are made from toon wood. This has been described as a combination of teak and mahogany. Some older sitars are made of teak. Tea …

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Q: How long do sitars last?A: The climate in India, especially in Calcutta, is terrible for instruments. The heat and humidity take a big toll. The reality is that a sitar can be expected to …

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