Different Parts of Sitar




Essential Parts of the Sitar (Beginner-Friendly)

1. Tumba (तुम्बा)

  • The large resonating gourd at the bottom that amplifies sound.

2. Tabli (ताबली)

  • The soundboard (front wooden plate) where the bridge sits.

3. Jawāri / Jawāri Bridge (जावरी)

  • The main bridge that gives the sitar its buzzing tone.

4. Chota Jawāri (छोटा जावरी)

  • The small bridge for sympathetic strings.

5. Baj Tāar (बज तार)

  • The main playing string (usually the 1st string).

6. Chikari Strings (चिकारी)

  • The rhythmic drone strings used for jhala and keeping laya.

7. Taraf / Tarafdar (तरफ़ / तरफ़दार)

  • The sympathetic strings underneath the frets, which resonate automatically to enrich the sound.

8. Parda (पर्दा)

  • The movable metal frets used to produce different notes.

9. Daand / Dand (डांड)

  • The long wooden neck of the sitar where frets and strings run.

10. Gulu (गुलु)

  • The curve/joint connecting the neck to the tumba.

11. Kunti / Pegs (कुँटी)

  • The tuning pegs used to tune the main and taraf strings.

12. Tar-gahan (तारगहना)

  • The small string guide near the peg box that keeps strings aligned.

13. Plectrum / Mizrāb (मिज़राब)

  • The wire plectrum worn on the finger for plucking.

14. Tabkandi / Tabkandi Plate

  • The decorative and protective wooden plate on the lower part of the tabli.

15. Stag / Toomba (Upper Tumba) (found on some sitars)

  • A small additional gourd at the top for extra resonance.

16. Strings Set (Tar-set)

  • The combination of main strings + jod/jawari string + chikari + taraf strings.


1. Tumba – The big gourd at the bottom that makes the sound louder.
2. Tabli – The wooden top plate where the bridge sits.
3. Jawari (Main Bridge) – The flat bridge that creates the sitar’s buzzing tone.
4. Chota Jawari – The small bridge for the sympathetic (taraf) strings.
5. Baj Tāar – The first/main playing string.
6. Jod Tāar – The second string used for melody support and meend.
7. Chikari Strings – Drone strings used for rhythm and jhala strokes.
8. Taraf Strings – Thin sympathetic strings that vibrate automatically to enrich sound.
9. Parda (Frets) – Movable metal frets that give different notes.
10. Dand – The long wooden neck of the sitar.
11. Gulu – The curved joint connecting neck and tumba.
12. Kunti (Pegs) – Wooden tuning pegs for adjusting string pitch.
13. Tar-gahan – The small string guide near the peg section.
14. Mizrāb – The metal plectrum worn on the finger to pluck strings.
15. Tabkandi Plate – Decorative-protective plate on the lower tabli.
16. Upper Tumba (if present) – Small top gourd giving extra resonance.

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