Instrument Study: Structure, Tuning, Technique and Maintenance
What the domain tests
This domain tests detailed knowledge of your chosen instrument. A generic answer about 'strings and fingers' will not score; the examiner expects named parts, a tuning procedure, playing technique and maintenance practice.
Core rules and concepts
- For any instrument, answer in four headings: structure, tuning, playing technique, maintenance.
- Structure questions need named parts. For sitar: tumba, neck, frets, jawari bridge, main strings, chikari strings, tarab strings and mizrab. For sarod: fretless metal fingerboard, goat-skin head, main and sympathetic strings. For tabla: dayan, bayan, syahi, gatta and hammer. For flute: bamboo body, blowing hole, finger holes and cork.
- Tuning starts from the tonic Sa. Drone and sympathetic strings follow the raga. Do not tune every instrument to an absolute Western pitch.
- Technique must name hand position and ornament: meend, kan, gamak, bol, stroke or bowing.
- Maintenance includes controlled humidity, clean strings, bridge care, reed care and safe transport.
Worked example
On sitar, the main playing string may be tuned to Sa or to a raga-specific note such as Ma; chikari strings are tuned to Sa and Pa; tarab strings are tuned to notes of the raga. Reasoning: the tonic fixes the player's Sa, while tarab must resonate with the raga's svara set. The mizrab is worn on the right index finger; the left hand produces meend by pulling across the curved fret.
Traps that cost marks
Do not confuse sitar with sarod: one has tied frets, the other is fretless. Do not ignore tarab or chikari. Do not over-tighten pegs. Do not give maintenance as 'keep it clean' without naming the bridge, strings or humidity.