SAROD

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Sarod

Sound Sample

Next to the Sitar, the Sarod is the most well-known and most important Indian stringed instrument of classical northern Indian music. Particularly Sarod players such as Ali Akbar Khan have made the Sarod known beyond the borders of India in the west. .

Construction and character of the Sarod
With high-quality instruments the resonance body, the neck and the peg box are made from one single piece of wood. The type of wood that is used is mostly tun or teak wood. Simpler and more inexpensive Sarods are composed of two parts. Here, the peg box is put on separately. The wooden body, that is covered with goatskin, has a thin horn bridge across which the strings are running. The fingerboard on the neck consists of a polished, shiny steel plate and does not have any frets. The Sarod has a second soundbox made of brass which is fixed to the top end of the neck. It has both, playing strings and drone strings. The playing strings are fingered or plucked, the drone strings are vibrating at the same time, but are not struck themselves, and produce an echo-like effect.

Playing technique of the Sarod
The playing strings of the Sarod are struck or plucked with a pick made of coconut shell while the instrument is placed on the lap, sitting cross-legged. This special kind of pick and the striking technique that is used, make a wide range of differentiated rhythmic striking variations possible. The strings are not pressed onto the fingerboard with the fingertips like in violin playing for example, but with the tip of the fingernail. In this way the typical metallic echoing sound of the Sarod is produced. This is intensified by a continuous gliding of the fingernail along the string on the fretless fingerboard. Thus the ornaments and micro-intervals are produced that are so typical and essential in Indian music.

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TARANG offers on principle only high-qualtiy musical instruments. This is made possible by close personal contact to the suppliers and a strict selection of the instruments that are included in our range of goods. We do not offer any instruments which reach the west from unknown sources via importers and which are often resold by middlemen without any quality check and setting of the instrument. The demand from the west is relatively high in India. The purchase prices are negotiated to the lowest limit by the western countries, especially for high ordered quantities. This has effects on the required care and circumspection in craftsmanship, on the experience and mentality of the commissioned manufacturer and the use of parts of the instruments that are often of a poor qualtity. Irrespective of the qualification of the skill in craftsmanship, this leads, in some cases, to results that do not deserve the name instrument. Thus it is easily comprehensible that it is essential, when bying an Indian instrument, to know the sources. TARANG only supplies instruments from indisputable sources. All instruments are delivered adjusted and ready to be played.

Of course, we understand that somebody who purchases an instrument is also dependent on accessories and spare parts. Also in this respect we can satisfy the needs of our customers. Should an instrument be defective at any time, we can arrange for appropriate restoration. As a rule we can deliver any instrument offered on our website within 1 - 2 weeks. Our international lists of teachers enable everybody to find information about a teacher in their proximity. You can expect from us: reasonable prices, prompt service and straightforward processing of purchase and delivery.

The financial aspect also has to be mentioned. Despite the high quality we offer, we also do our best to offer you these instruments at very competitive and reasonable prices.