Keivan Saket

The Tar is a long-necked, waisted lute that serves as the primary instrument of Persian classical music. It is distinguished by its double-bowl body carved from mulberry wood and covered with a thin membrane of lambskin, which gives it a unique, resonant, and slightly nasal timbre. It typically has six strings (arranged in three courses) and movable gut frets that allow for the microtonal intervals essential to the Dastgah system. The instrument is held against the upper chest and plucked with a small brass plectrum held in a ball of wax, allowing for intricate ornamentation and rapid tremolos.