Re: sitar strings

--- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:

/metatuning/topicId_unknown.html#3125

> on 9/19/02 11:36 AM, Joseph Pehrson wrote:
>
> > ***Got it. So, I guess the sitar works in an entirely different
way,
> > and the "secondary" strings are not right next to the main ones
and
> > are not played simultaneously?? Dunno.
>
> There's a whole set of sympathetic strings on a sitar. They are
below the
> bridges and are not plucked.
>
> There's then *one* string on the sitar itself that you play. The
bridges are
> movable to select from various modes, and indeed are moved even
during the
> course of a concert.
>
> When you get advanced, your teacher will allow you to have a
*second* string
> you can play. Now you can play two notes at once. But that's only
for people
> after years of intense study.
>
> Maybe you can even get a third string but I don't recall having
seen that.
>
> - Jeff

***Thanks, Jeff. That's indeed different from a 12-string
guitar... :-)

Joe

--- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:

> The bridges are
> movable to select from various modes, and indeed are moved even
>during the
> course of a concert.

i think you meant the *frets* are movable.

--- In metatuning@y..., "Paul Erlich" <paul@s...> wrote:
> --- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:
>
> > The bridges are
> > movable to select from various modes, and indeed are moved even
> >during the
> > course of a concert.
>
> i think you meant the *frets* are movable.

oh wait -- if you were talking about the sympathetic strings, then
yes, bridges would be a more appropriate term.

--- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:
> on 9/19/02 2:49 PM, Paul Erlich wrote:
>
> > --- In metatuning@y..., "Paul Erlich" <paul@s...> wrote:
> >> --- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:
> >>
> >>> The bridges are
> >>> movable to select from various modes, and indeed are moved even
> >>> during the
> >>> course of a concert.
> >>
> >> i think you meant the *frets* are movable.
> >
> > oh wait -- if you were talking about the sympathetic strings, then
> > yes, bridges would be a more appropriate term.
>
> No I was meaning the melody strings.
>
> I think you're right about the term fret.
>
>
> - Jeff

also, you didn't mention the drone strings, which are played but not
fretted. so you have melody string(s), sympathetic strings, and drone
strings on a sitar.

--- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:

> And yes you're right there's also these five or so *other* strings
also
> tuned from the side but with bigger tuning pins. And they are not
played as
> melody. But suddenly I'm confused as to where they run -- how can
they avoid
> running over the frets? Do they run below the frets and above the
> sympathetic strings? Or do they run atop the frets but the
instrumentalist
> never plays them at the fret? Vaguely seems to me they run atop the
fret too
> but I don't remember clearly...

yes, to the best of my recollection they run atop the frets but the
instrumentalist never plays them at the fret. i do a lot of this sort
of thing on acoustic guitar (usually on tuesdays), and i'm planning a
microtonal "shrutar" to continue my explorations in this vein. it's
always fun to invert the roles of the drone and melody strings, or to
use a hybrid dronal/tonal harmony . . .

--- In metatuning@y..., "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@e...> wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> > OK, so there's 11 or 13 or so unfretted sympathetic strings
*under* the
> > frets. Their small tuning pegs are on the side of the instrument.
They
> > affect the timbre of the instrument.
>
> Actually, they are tuned to the raga being used for the piece,
emphasizing
> the scale at a timbral level.

so you're talking to yourself now? or is there another jeff?

> > And there are one or two melody strings that run on the top of the
> > instrument that are fretted and are tuned with big tuning pegs on
the top of
> > the instrument.
>
> Ah, it turns out there are 4 melody strings.

well, you were also right the first time, there can be as few as one
or (usually) two melody strings.

> > And yes you're right there's also these five or so *other*
strings also
> > tuned from the side but with bigger tuning pins.
>
> There are three drone strings and they are strummed.

sometimes four drone strings, sometimes a different number.

----- Original Message -----
From: "X. J. Scott" <xjscott@...>
To: <metatuning@yahoogroups.com>

> on 9/19/02 3:46 PM, Paul Erlich wrote:
>
> > also, you didn't mention the drone strings, which are played but not
> > fretted. so you have melody string(s), sympathetic strings, and drone
> > strings on a sitar.
>
> Really?
>
> Oh!
>
> OK, so there's 11 or 13 or so unfretted sympathetic strings *under* the
> frets. Their small tuning pegs are on the side of the instrument. THey
> affect the tibre of the instrument.
>
> And there are one or two melody strings that run on the top of the
> instrument that are fretted and are tuned with big tuning pegs on the top
of
> the instrument.
>
> And yes you're right there's also these five or so *other* strings also
> tuned from the side but with bigger tuning pins. And they are not played
as
> melody. But suddenly I'm confused as to where they run -- how can they
avoid
> running over the frets? Do they run below the frets and above the
> sympathetic strings? Or do they run atop the frets but the instrumentalist
> never plays them at the fret? Vaguely seems to me they run atop the fret
too
> but I don't remember clearly...

- The sympathetic (tarb) strings run under the frets. The only time you
hear
these strings strummed is as a last minute check for tuning at the
beginning
of a raga.

- The 3 or 4 (apparently sometimes as many as 7) melody strings run above
the frets.

- The 3 or 4 "drone chikari strings run along the bass side of the
instrument.

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley