Full set of 18 Top Branded Karuna Indian Sitar Strings 7+11 includes Tarafdar (Sympathetic Strings)

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Although still popular to this day, the sitar is believed to have been invented in the 13th century, over 700 years ago. In Western music, it's common to tune in C, but the standard Indian tuning is in D. Here's what the tones look like: Solfege: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Despite the song’s popularity, Shankar wasn’t impressed when he first heard Harrison playing the sitar. Amir Khusrow is an iconic figure in the cultural history of India and is believed to have pioneered some of the major forms of Hindustani classical music. This includes the Tarana, Khyal, and Qawwali. The 1960s Beatles song, “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” is the first pop music that featured the sitar.

When tuning a sitar first locate the middle C note on a keyboard, piano or guitar. If you have a tuned guitar, the middle C note is located on the 2nd string (B string) 1st fret. On a full sized midi keyboard (88 keys) or piano the middle C note is located in the middle of the piano. Some midi keyboard manufacturers, such as M-audio, have middle C labelled as ‘C3’ on their full sized keyboards. You will use the middle C note as a reference point to tune the sitar. The 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th main strings of your sitar will be tuned to the tonic note. Shankar, Ravi (2007). My Music, My Life. San Rafael, CA: Mandala Publishing. p.100. ISBN 978-1-60109-005-8. Allyn Miner (2004). Sitar and Sarod in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp.17–24. ISBN 9788120814936.

Sitar tuning is not an exact science, so if you're unsure what notes to tune your sympathetic string, it's totally fine to adjust them to your liking. As long as the notes are tuned in the right key, you'll sound fine.

These are excellent strings, they sound really good and are a pleasure to play. The first string seems to be lower tension than the one I used previously and is easy on the fingers when bending it. My only criticism is that it is quite hard to twist the metal to make loop ends for the 5th to 7th strings. Would it be too much to ask that these strings could come with ready-made loop ends?Lavezzoli, Peter (2006). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. New York, NY: Continuum. p.65. ISBN 0-8264-2819-3.