setar

Also known as saitār, sehtār, setā, setór, sihtār, Iranian setar

A setar (, ) (lit: "Three Strings") is a stringed instrument, a type of lute used in Persian traditional music, played solo or accompanying voice. It is a member of the tanbur family of long-necked lutes with a range of more than two and a half octaves. Originally a three stringed instrument, a fourth string was added by Mushtaq Ali Shah by the mid 19th century. It is played with the index finger of the right hand.

Key facts

Instrument.name: Setar (سه‌تار‎)
Instrument.names: setaar or setâr
Instrument.image: setar.jpg
Instrument.image_capt: A typical Iranian setar
Instrument.background: string
Instrument.classification: Plucked
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs: 321.321
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs_desc: Necked-bowl lutes: instruments in which sound is produced by one or more vibrating strings, in which the resonator and string bearer are physically united and can not be separated without destroying the instrument, in which the strings run in a plane parallel to the sound table, whose body is shaped like a bowl
Instrument.developed: Developed by the 15th century, possibly earlier. 4th string added widely by 19th century
Instrument.range: 130px|center
Instrument.related: Choghur Tambouras Tanbur Tar
Instrument.sound sample: thumb|center |A short clip in "Dastgahe Segah" using the Setar.

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Setar Body.jpg

Show 2 more facts

Hornbostel-Sachs classification: 321.321
Commons category: Setar

Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~16 min read

Article

16 sections

Contents

Etymology
Sharing a name
Construction
Characteristics
Playing the setar
Tuning the setar
Example
Movable frets
Setting strings for a ''Dastgâh''
Setting the frets
The setar in recorded media
Notable setarists
See also
Notes
References
External links

It has been speculated that the setar originated in Persia by the 9th century AD A more conservative estimate says "it originated in the 15th century, or even earlier."