The sitar is the Indian plucked instrument with a long hollow neck that is central to Hindustani classical music.
The sitar is a long-necked lute used primarily in North Indian, or Hindustani, classical music. Modern sitars commonly have movable frets, several playing strings, and sympathetic strings that vibrate in response to the notes being played. A gourd resonator is often attached to the neck, although designs vary.
Players use a metal plectrum called a mizrab worn on the index finger. The frets can be curved and are usually tied or otherwise mounted so they can be adjusted for different ragas and tunings. Performances often develop through an alap, a freely paced melodic introduction, followed by sections with rhythmic accompaniment.
The sitar became internationally prominent through artists such as Ravi Shankar and through collaborations with Western musicians in the 1960s. It should not be confused with the tanpura, which provides a sustained drone and is not normally used to play a long melodic line.