Sarod
Fretless, metal-fingerboarded, and one of the deepest sounds in Indian classical music.
Where the sitar shimmers, the sarod growls and slides. The steel fingerboard means notes are stopped with the nail against metal, giving the glissando that defines the instrument, and the absence of frets means intonation is entirely your responsibility.
Sarod or sitar? Not interchangeable and not a matter of level. The sarod is harder to play in tune and easier to play expressively once you are. If you love the slow slides between notes more than the shimmer, this is your instrument.
What to expect on arrival. Sarods are heavy for their size and need careful setup. Every one we ship is checked before dispatch, and we will talk you through the first tuning on WhatsApp if you are new to it.
Related: the surbahar if you want depth in the sitar family, and Strings for the full range.
