Sarod
Sarod is basically a North Indian classical music stringed instrument. This instrument is 3 feet to 3.5 feet long. This instrument has a round head. A resonating chamber made of teak wood present with round head and with teak wood a parchment or skin belly soundboard that is attached to a triangular neck and fingerboard. The fingerboard has a thin polished metal sheet covering and is fretless. This allows the player to execute meends, or sliding of the pitch. The modern sarod has 20 to 25 metal strings
- 15 tarab (sympathetic) strings
- four main strings
- three chikari (jhala), raised strings that provide a rhythmic drone
- three thaat strings that are tuned to the raga that is being played
Plectrum is used to play this instruments. It is fashioned from coconut shell, in the right hand, while the left hand is used on the upper neck of the instrument. The sarod was developed from the veena and sursringar stringed instruments and has its origins in Indian and Afghan lutes, more particularly, Sarod has been found in carvings of the 1st century in Champa temple and also in paintings in the Ajanta caves. It also has a similarity with the Rabab of Afghanistan and Kashmir. The word sarod is linked to the Sankrit 'shorode' means good noise, the Persian 'sarrod' means melody, and Arabic 'sahrood' means music and interesting thing is the word 'swarode' from Bengal means music.