sarod

instrumentssah-RODEfrom Persian/Hindi

A fretless stringed instrument of North India, known for its deep, resonant tone and powerful meend.

In Depth

The sarod has a metal fingerboard with no frets, allowing unlimited microtonal sliding. Its 25 strings (4-5 melody, 2 drone, 2 rhythm, and 15-16 sympathetic) are plucked with a coconut shell plectrum, producing a bright, metallic attack that sustains into a warm, resonant tone. The sarod excels at rapid passages and dramatic meend. Amjad Ali Khan and Ali Akbar Khan are among the most celebrated sarod players in [Hindustani music](/term/hindustani%20music).
Did you know?

Ali Akbar Khan was the first Indian musician to release a Western LP of Indian classical music (1955), introducing the sarod and raga to Western audiences before Ravi Shankar.

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