Which musical instrument is commonly associated with Indian classical music?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer: Sitar
Explanation
The Sitar is one of the most prominent and globally recognized plucked stringed instruments commonly associated with Indian classical music, particularly in the Hindustani (North Indian) classical tradition. It traces its structural evolution back to medieval India, emerging from traditional stringed instruments like the Veena and modified Persian lutes.
The Sitar is famous for its distinct, resonant sound, which is produced using a deep gourd-shaped resonating chamber (tabli and tumba) and a long, hollow wooden neck. It features a combination of playable melodic strings and a set of underlying sympathetic strings (tarfs) that vibrate in harmony with the main notes. Legendary maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar played a monumental role in popularizing the sitar globally during the 20th century.
The other options—Guitar, Piano, and Violin—are fundamentally rooted in Western musical traditions, although instruments like the Violin have been beautifully adapted into Carnatic (South Indian) classical music over the centuries.
Key Points
The Sitar features movable, curved brass or silver frets aligned along its neck, allowing musicians to easily pull the strings laterally to produce the delicate microtonal glides known as 'Meend' in Indian classical music.
The unique metallic, buzzing timbre of the sitar is primarily produced by its wide, flat bridges traditionally crafted from bone or deer horn, known as the 'Javari'.
Musicians play the sitar by wearing a specialized wire plectrum called a 'Mizrab' on the index finger of their plucking hand.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which globally renowned Indian sitar maestro was honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, for popularizing Indian classical music worldwide?
Answer: Pandit Ravi Shankar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999 for his unparalleled contributions to music.
Question: What is the specialized wire plectrum worn on the index finger to pluck the strings of a Sitar called?
Answer: It is called a Mizrab.