Tuning A Sitar Is A Must Needed Skill For Musician

Sitar is a string instrument where all strings are tightly wrapped across keys producing different frequency of vibration

. Controlling and playing with this diverse frequency using finger tips produce classical Indian music. Frets are attached to the strings at different nodal point to create notes of different frequency.These frets are movable and adjustable to fine tune music. The string instrument has 18 to 20 strings out of which 7 strings are labeled as Main and 13 strings are labeled as sympathetic. These musical instruments is in the form of a gourd extended with a top base .The sitting position is like a half lotus where in the gourd or the heavier part is supported by left foot and the top base is supported by fingers and hand to play the strings.

Tuning the string instrument is a time consuming affair. For a beginner, Its highly complex and tedious to tune the string instrument. An electronic chromatic tuner which detects the note played can help to fine tune the string instrument without much difficulty. Tuning styles depends on string gauges and the frets used at different nodal points. Indian classical music has Benaras style , traditional style , Ravi Shankar style and Vilayat Khan style tuning which can be played with the string instrument. There is string tuning chart available to be followed for adapting different styles for tuning. Indian classical ortraditional method of tuning the string instrument is by tunning the 2 nd and 3rd strings to C and the following 4th string to G. Ravi Shankar style tunning is bit different from the traditional form where the Ravi Shankar style tunning 2nd string to C, 3rd to G, 4th to lower C.

This string instrument should be maintained perfectly after its tuning is done. It should be covered with a cloth when not in use. Strings should be changed on regular basis after it is used for a minimum period of time. If it is used on daily basis , then strings should be changed in every 3 months and the ma string should be changed in every month. The whole instrument should be cleaned with a dry cloth to maintain the shine. After much use, the bridges become grooved under the strings, so, it is needed to resurfaced by a professional sitarist. Extra cautious should be mentioned while dealing with the gourd as it is highly fragile. The frets should be polished every month with a steel wool. After long use of the instrument for a year, its pegs starts to slip, so, it can be prevented by using chalk ( not meant for blackboard ).

The musical instrument stores themselves do all the maintenance as they are acquaint with all the instructions for safeguarding the instrument. Maintenance of other instruments like harmonium and tabla is not that complicated. These are sturdy instruments and can be played with comparatively less care as liked the string instruments.

by: Satya Bariks

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