---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/how-do-you-play-the-santoor'
title: 'How do you play the santoor?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/user/fdfe7927a034173f'
date: '2026-10-19T14:59:16+00:00'
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summary: 'A santoor is played by striking its strings with two light mallets; Shivkumar Sharma played it on his lap rather than on a stand.'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How do you play the santoor?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

A **[santoor](/instrument/santoor)** player strikes the strings with a pair of light mallets, called mezrab or kalam. Shivkumar Sharma held the mallets between the index and middle fingers. He also played the santoor on his lap rather than on the traditional wooden stand, to reduce disturbing resonance; the instrument weighs about 8 kg.



 

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## Related pages

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###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Santoor The santoor is a Kashmiri hammered dulcimer of about 100 strings on 25 bridges. Shivkumar Sharma and Bhajan Sopori took it from Sufiana Mausiqi to the…     ](/en-int/instrument/santoor)
 
  

 

 

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