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Tar

pronunciation

Tar

​

Tar is an exclusively Iranian and very original instrument. It is a long-neck lute with a double-bowl sound box. In Persian terminology, Tar means string. Early pieces of evidence of Tar back to the 18th century. It seems the development of Rubab based on Setar's musical properties led to the invention of Tar. Early versions of Tar were created at Shiraz and had four strings (same as Setar) with a double-bowl sound-box (similar to Rubab’s).

The modern version of Tar has three pairs of strings, two unequal double-sound-box covered by thin sheepskin (thin skin gives high sonority and sensitivity to slight touch), and a long neck, the same as Setar’s neck (note range is about 3 octaves). Tar plays by a metal plectrum, and the style of holding in and plucking will significantly impact the resulting sound. For the last two centuries, Tar is one of the most (or most) popular Persian musical instruments.

Tar and Tonbak duet  by Mohammad-Reza Lotfi and  Mohammad Ghavi-Helm

Tar and Tonbak duet  by Hossein Alizadeh and Homayoun Shajarian

Tar solo by Ali Ghamsari

Tar solo by Dariush Talaie

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