Sarod Facts: Shop for Instruments, Accessories, Gifts

Sarod Facts

The sarod is a lute-like stringed instrument of Indian origin. Like the sitar, it’s a popular and prominent instrument in Hindustani classical music. The instrument is known for its deep, introspective sound, which contrasts nicely with the sweet texture of the sitar. The absence of frets allows players to glide easily from one note to another. This is known as meend, which is essential in the performance of Indian music.

Here are a few more interesting sarod facts. It’s likely the sarod descended from the Afghan rubab, a similar instrument with roots in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The word sarod means “beautiful sound” or “melody” in Persian, one of many languages spoken in Afghanistan.

Sarod Construction

How many strings are there? On a conventional instrument there are 17 to 25. Four to five main strings are used for playing the melody. There are also one or two drone strings, two chikari strings, and nine to eleven sympathetic strings. The strings are made of steel or phosphor bronze, and are usually plucked with a triangular hand-crafted coconut shell plectrum called a Javva. Some players prefer plectrums made of ebony, cocobolo wood, horn, or cowbone.

More Sarod Facts

Fun Fact
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a sarodist.

Notable sarodists include Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, Abhisek Lahiri, Sharan Rani, K. Sridhar, Aditya Verma, and James Whetzel.

Indian Classical Ragas

Amjad Ali Khan

Indian Classical Ragas – Amjad Ali Khan

Listen to the Sarod

Performed by Amaan Ali Khan

Indian classical musician and composer Amaan Ali Khan explains the construction, techniques, and performance of the sarod. He’s a seventh generation Sarod Master, and was just eight years old when he gave his first public performance. Amaan is the son of Amjad Ali Khan and often performs with his younger brother Ayaan Ali Khan, with whom he hosted the music talent show Sa Re Ga Ma. He’s widely considered one of the finest players in the world, with fans on many continents.

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve created more than 2,000 products for string instrument players and music lovers. Find a unique gift for your favorite sarod player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Sarod collection.

Find a Sarod Online

21-String Full Cedar Wood Indian Sarod

Product details:

Beautiful Indian string instrument with wooden resonator
Full cedar construction ensures more consistent tuning
Designed to withstand high tension created by 21 strings
Dimensions: 51.5 x 16 x 13 inches
Steel fretboard material
Top of the line real bone bridges and brass frets
This instrument will require tuning
Sarod is shipped with untightened strings to avoid damage

Kolkata 21-String Indian Sarod Full Cedar Wood Front and Back

Sarod Gift Ideas

If you need to find a gift for your favorite sarod player, you’ve come to the right place. We’re always creating new products and sharing our favorites from other designers.

Shop for Sarods and Accessories

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This means that–at zero cost to you–we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Sarod Strings – Karuna Brand – Complete Set with Sympathetic Strings – Made by Expert Hands Traditional Hand-Crafted Coconut Shell Sarod Jawa Pick Plectrum – Professional Quality – Set of 2 Ustad Ali Akbar Khan – Plays Alap – A Sarod Solo – Shri Rag – Light Classical Raga – 2 Audio CDs Buddhadev Das Gupta – Sarod – Raga Chhaya – Joined by Samir Chatterjee on Tabla – Audio CD