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title: 'How many strings does a sitar have?'
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date: '2026-10-19T14:57:53+00:00'
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summary: 'A sitar has 18 to 21 metal strings: six or seven played melody and chikari strings, and 11 to 13 sympathetic strings beneath the frets.'
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# How many strings does a sitar have?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 Documented **[sitar](/instrument/sitar)s** carry 18 to 21 metal strings. Six or seven run over the main bridge: melody strings that the player stops on the frets, and **chikari** strings struck for rhythm. Another 11 to 13 sympathetic strings, the taraf, run beneath the frets over a smaller bridge, are tuned to the notes of the raga and ring in response to the played strings.



 

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