The sarod is a stringed musical instrument that is commonly used in the Hindustani music tradition of northern India. It belongs to the lute family and is known for its distinctive sound and expressive capabilities.
History and Origin
The exact origin of the sarod is a subject of debate among scholars. Many believe that the sarod is a combination of the ancient vichitravina, the medieval Indian rabab, and the modern sursingar. Some scholars also suggest that a similar instrument may have existed about two thousand years ago in ancient India during the Gupta period. In fact, a Gupta period coin depicts the great king Samudragupta playing a veena, which many believe to be the precursor of the sarod.
The sarod rose in popularity in the 1800s, especially in Northern India. It underwent further adaptations in the 20th century by musicians like Allauddin Khan, who made changes to the size and tone of the instrument to improve its sound quality. Over time, the sarod has continued to be customized and adapted by musicians and instrument makers, resulting in variations in its design and techniques.
Structure and Playing Technique
The modern classical sarod is approximately 100 cm (ca. 39 inches) long and has a slightly waisted wooden body with a skin belly. It features a broad neck with a wide fretless fingerboard covered in metal to accommodate characteristic sliding pitches. The instrument typically has four to six main melodic strings, with additional sympathetic and drone strings. Some strings may be paired in double courses, tuned in unison or at the octave.
To play the sarod, the seated musician holds the instrument across their lap. The strings are plucked with a plectrum held in the right hand, while the fingernails of the left-hand press the strings against the fretless fingerboard to produce different pitches and ornamentation.
Notable Players
The sarod has been played by numerous renowned musicians throughout history. Prominent sarod players: Abhisek Lahiri, Abir Hossain, Aditya Verma, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Alok Lahiri, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, Anupam Shobhakar, Arnab Chakrabarty, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Basant Kabra, Biswajit Roy Chowdhury, Brij Narayan, Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, Dr. Chandrima Majumdar, Debasmita Bhattacharya, Jotin Bhattacharya, Narendra Nath Dhar, Pradeep Barot, Prattyush Bannerji, Pushpen Dey, Radhika Mohan Maitra, Pandit Rajeev Taranath, Rajrupa Chowdhury, Reeta Das, Sakhawat Hussain, Sharan Rani, Soumik Datta, Tejendra Majumdar, Vasant Rai, and Pandit Vikash Maharaj.
Sarod Books
Sitar and Sarod in the 18th & 19th Centuries by Allyn Miner. Jan 1, 1997
Inventing the Sarod: A Cultural History by Adrian McNeil. Jan 1, 2004
How to Play the Sarod: A Step-by-Step Guide including 1 hour of video tutorials by Rahul Bhatttacharya. Aug 24, 2017.
Sarod Albums
Alap – a Sarod Solo by Ali Akbar Khan
Sarod Maestro by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Strings For Peace: Premieres For Guitar & Sarod by Sharon Isbin and Amjad Ali Khan
Sarod Traditional Music From India by Aditya Verma
Live at Washington Square Church 1981 by Vasant Rai and Vasant Rai (sarod), Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.