sitar

Everyday

1. A sitar is a musical instrument from India with a long wooden neck, a round body made from a gourd, and many strings, played by plucking. tree →
2. It makes a bright, buzzing, ringing sound and is used in Indian classical music. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons the sitar is a string instrument from India; besides the strings you play, it has extra strings underneath that ring along (sympathetic strings). Ravi Shankar was a famous sitar player, and the Beatles used a sitar in some songs. Phrases: play the sitar, sitar music.

Examples

• The sitar has a long neck and curved metal frets. tree →
• Ravi Shankar played the sitar all over the world. tree →
• The sitar's strings buzzed and shimmered. tree →
• We listened to sitar music during our lesson on India. tree →
• You pluck a sitar with a wire pick worn on the finger. tree →
• George Harrison of the Beatles learned to play the sitar. tree →
• The sitar player sat on the floor with the instrument resting on his foot. tree →

Note

Plural sitars. Stress on the second syllable: si-TAR. Do not confuse with guitar, although both are plucked string instruments. A sitar often has about 18 to 21 strings.