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Sarod is an instrument which is derived from the
rabab. It is not an ancient instrument, probably no more than 150 to 200 years.
It is essentially a bass rabab. It has a metal fingerboard with no frets.
The bridge rests on a taut membrane which covers the resonator. The sarod
has numerous strings, some of which are drone, some are played, and some are
sympathetic. The approach to tuning is somewhat similar to other stringed
instruments. It is played with a pick made of coconut shell.
There are a number of artists who have excelled at this instrument. Today
the most notable are Amjad Ali Khan and Ali Akbar Khan.
Sarod is an Indian classical music instrument.
It originates from the Senya rebab an Indio-persian instrument played in India
from the 16th to the 19th century.
Rajasthani, followed by Bengali instrument makers have definitely changed
its shape.
It has kept from its ancestor some characteristics : it is made of one piece
of carved wood, the neck is fretless and the bridge is seated on a skin stretched
on the body of the instrument.
Maihar's sarod, developped by Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, brother of the famous Ustad
Allauddin Khan has 4 playing strings, played with the nails of the left hand,
2 rhythm strings tuned on the high tonic, 4 strings placed on a flat bridge
near the neck, and at last 13 sympathetic strings tuned on the notes of the
raga. Yhe musician uses the end of the nails to stop the string.
The right hand hits the strings (but not the sympathetic strings) with a coconut
wood plectrum.
