Sometimes known as bass sitar, this is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower tone. Depending on the instrument's size, it is usually pitched 2 to 5 whole steps below the standard sitar. 

The surbahar is over 130 cm (51 inches). It uses a dried gourd as a resonator and has a neck with very wide frets, which allow a glissando of 6 notes on the same fret through the method of pulling. The neck is made out of toona, or teak wood. It has 3 or 4 rhythm strings (chikari), 4 playing strings and 10 or 11 sympathetic strings. There are 2 bridges. The playable strings pass over the greater bridge, which is connected to the tabli with small legs, which are glued in place. The sympathetic strings pass over the smaller bridge which is directly glued onto the tabli. The bridges have a slightly curved upper surface which results in a buzzing sound known as jawari, causing the string to change in length slightly as it vibrates. The instrumentalist plays the strings using a metallic plectrum, the mizrab, which is fixed on the index finger of the player's right hand.