Dilruba - Wooden Pegs, 3 Iron Playing Strings, 11 Sympathetic Strings | Bow-playable, Sitar And Sarangi Hybrid

The dilruba and the esraj are very similar indian classical instruments and share the same roots with sarangi, but they are more recent (XIXth century).

The instruments has a neck similar to sitar, but smaller, with sitar frets and sympathetic strings. The bridge is seated on a skin stretched over the body of the instrument.

Most of the dilruba and esraj have 3 iron or bronze playing strings and 11 sympathetic strings. The playing strings are played with a violin bow, or a sarangi bow (with convex's tension) held in the right hand.

The main difference between the intruments is seen in the pegs: they are in wood for the esraj and of guitar type for the dilruba

Dilruba is a cross between the sitar and sarangi. It is extremely close to the esraj and the mayuri vina. It so close that most people are unable to tell them apart. The difference is to be found in the shape of the resonators and the manner in which the sympathetic strings attach.