Tar

Sound and Character

The sound of the tar is bright, metallic, ringing, and saturated with an abundance of overtones. Double paired strings create a dense, ringing timbre perfectly suited for fast passages and subtle microtonal melisma.

Design and Features

The body has a recognizable “figure-eight” shape with two resonator bowls carved from a single piece of mulberry and covered with a thin membrane of bull pericardium. Dozens of gut or fishing line frets are tied to the neck for precise tuning. It is played with a small copper plectrum.

Genres Used In

• Azerbaijani mugham and Persian classical music
• Traditional ensembles of Eastern instruments