A long necked Indian stringed instrument with an interesting construction. It has a varying number of strings but 17 is usual. It has 3 to 4 playing strings and 3 to 4 drone strings. These strings are plucked with a wire finger plectrum called mizrab. There are also a series of sympathetic strings lying under the frets. These strings are almost never played but they vibrate whenever the corresponding note is sounded. The frets are metal rods which have been bent into crescents. The main resonator is usually made of a gourd and there is sometimes an additional resonator attached to the neck.

The sitar is used in a variety of genres. It is played in North Indian classical music, film music and western fusion music. It is not commonly found in South Indian classical performances or folk music.