Sitar vs. Setar — What's the Difference?

The sitar and setar, both plucked string instruments, originate from different cultural backgrounds, which significantly influences their construction, sound, and playing techniques. On the other hand, the setar is a much smaller instrument, with its origins tracing back to Persia (modern-day Iran). It has a slender neck and a smaller body, usually made of wood, and typically features four strings, though older versions had three.

While the sitar's playing technique involves a complex combination of plucking, gliding, and bending strings to produce a wide range of musical expressions, the setar's technique focuses more on the delicacy of touch and the nuance of the plucked note. Players of the sitar use a metal plectrum worn on the finger, allowing for dynamic and expressive playing, whereas setar players pluck the strings directly with their fingernails, which demands precise control and subtle articulations.

The construction of these instruments also highlights their cultural differences. The sitar often features elaborate decorations and inlays, reflecting the rich visual aesthetics of India. In contrast, the setar tends to have a simpler design, focusing more on the purity of sound than on visual embellishment, which mirrors the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Persian culture.

The repertoire and musical scales associated with each instrument differ, reflecting their distinct musical traditions. The sitar is often played in the context of raga, a framework of melodic structure in Indian classical music that allows for improvisation and expression. Meanwhile, the setar is commonly associated with radif, the traditional Persian music repertoire that consists of several hundred short melodic movements, each serving as a basis for improvisation and creation.