SARANGI

Sarangi

Sarangi is a common representative of vitat class of musical instruments. It has three to four main playing strings and a number of sympathetic strings. The instrument has no frets or fingerboard; the strings float in the air. Pitch is determined by sliding the fingernail against the string rather than pressing it against a fingerboard (like violin). This instrument is extremely difficult to play, as a consequence its popularity is on the decline. This instrument has traditionally been associated with the kathak dance and the vocal styles of thumri, dadra and kheyal.

Tuning the Sarangi

There are as many variations on the tuning of the sarangi as there are players. This is typical of the philosophy of tuning that one encounters with most Indian stringed instruments. However, a very typical approach is shown below.

There are a number of different sets of strings. There are three playing strings, one drone string and two sets of sympathetic strings. The tuning of Sa, lower Pa, and low Sa, would be the most basic for the playing strings. The drone string will usually be tuned to Sa, but even Ma or Pa is frequently found. The tunings of the sympathetic strings are so numerous that it is impractical to even attempt to describe them all. However, one normal approach is to tune the side sympathetics chromatically, while the upper sympathetics may be tuned to the notes of the rag.