3j surbahar B+W.jpg

surbahar belonging to chris sprague - built by rikhi ram, delhi india. the surbahar is a lute from north india, most easily described as a tenor sitar. it has moveable frets and 19 strings in 3 sets: 4 melodic strings, 4 rhythmic drone strings (chikari strings) and 11 sympathetic strings (taraf) which run underneath the frets. it's low register and long singing tone, rich in harmonics, favours the measured dhrupad style of alap.