Sarangi

Description or the Sarangi

The Sarangi has no frets or fingerboard. The Sarangi that we carry is a stout instrument approximately 25 inches long by 8 inches wide with a slight waist in the body and a relatively short, thick neck. It has four main strings that lay over the sympathetic strings. The soundboard is goatskin stretched over the resonator and has a movable bridge. A bow is included.

Playing the Sarangi

The bow is held palm upwards. It is drawn across the main strings, just above the bridge. The fingers of the left hand note the strings. This is done by pressing and sliding the bottom of the fingernail against the side of the string. Players often use talcum powder on their palms to facilitate the gliding of the hand up and down the neck. The gliding of your nails along the strings creates the sound characteristic of Hindustani music.