Dutar

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The dutar (also dotar or doutar) is a traditional long-necked two-stringed lute found in Central Asia. Its name comes from the Persian word for "two strings", dotar (do "two", tar "string"), although the Herati dutar of Afghanistan has 14 strings. When played, the strings are usually plucked by the Uyghurs of Western China and strummed and plucked by the Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmen, and Afghan people. In the instrument's 15th century beginnings in the hands of shepherds, its strings were made from gut. With the coming of the Silk Road, the strings were made from twisted silk. Modern instruments also have silk or nylon strings.

The dutar has a warm, dulcet tone. Typical sizes for the pear-shaped instrument range from one to two meters.

[edit] See also

• Music of Iran
• Music of Afghanistan
• Music of Turkmenistan
• Music of Central Asia
• Bağlama
• Çiftelia

[edit] Links

• Encyclopedia of Persian Music Instruments
• Setar Instrumental Family: Dotar

Iranian Musical Instruments
String Instruments (Sāzhāy-e Zehī)
Bowed instruments:	Ghazhak | Kamāncheh | Robāb
Plucked instruments:	Barbat | Chang | Dotār | Qānūn | Robāb | Sallāneh | Sāz | Setār | Tanbūr | Tār | Ūd
Struck instruments:	Santur
Woodwind instruments (Sāzhāy-e Bādī):
Exposed:	Darāy | Sornā | Karnay
End-blown:	Haft Band | Nāy (Ney) | Sheypur
Percussion instrument (Sāzhāy-e Kūbeheyī/Zarbī)
Auxiliary Percussion:	Daf | Dohol | Dāvūl | Dāyereh Zangī | Naqāreh | Tonbak (Dombak) | Kūs | Sanj