Sarangi

Sound and Character

The timbre of the sarangi is piercing, crying, deeply emotional, and slightly husky. Since it lacks traditional metal strings (using gut or nylon strings instead) and frets, the performer presses the strings not with the pads of their fingers, but with the sides of their nails, which produces a unique microtonal glissando.

Design and Features

The body is carved from a single piece of wood with a wide neck, and the lower part of the soundboard is covered with goat skin. The instrument has 3 main strings and up to 35–40 sympathetic resonating strings passing beneath them.

Genres Used In

• Indian classical vocal music (as accompaniment)
• Solo performances in the Hindustani tradition
• Northern Indian folklore