Shashtar
| Category | Strings (plucked long-necked lute) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Classification | musical instrument |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q85800699 |
Overview
The shashtar is a plucked long-necked lute used in Persian classical music. Its name means “six-stringed” in Persian, distinguishing it from the closely related setar (“three-stringed,” now four strings in modern practice). Like the shurangiz and the related modern Iranian lutes, the shashtar was developed in the twentieth century to extend the tonal range and texture available within the Persian tradition.
Origin & History
The shashtar is associated with the same circle of twentieth-century Iranian luthiers and performers — including Hossein Mohit — who worked to broaden the Persian instrumentarium without breaking its modal foundations. The instrument’s body and overall proportions follow the setar tradition, while the additional strings and slightly larger resonator give it a fuller sound suited to ensemble work and to lower-register playing.
How It’s Played
The shashtar is plucked with the index fingernail in setar style, and held against the body with the neck angled upward. Movable gut frets allow the player to set microtonal intervals matching the chosen dastgah, and right-hand technique combines single-note ornamentation with rapid up-and-down strums on open or sympathetic strings. The added strings give the instrument additional sympathetic resonance and a wider available pitch range.
Cultural Significance
Like the shurangiz, the shashtar occupies a small but recognised place in the contemporary Iranian instrumentarium. It is played by a relatively small number of soloists and ensemble musicians, and recordings appear on contemporary Persian classical and modal-improvisation releases. Its design exemplifies the steady expansion of the Persian lute family in the modern era.
Related Instruments
- Setar – closest stylistic ancestor
- Shurangiz – sibling modern Iranian lute
- Sorahi – related Iranian plucked instrument
- Cura – Turkish saz-family relative
- Bulbul Tarang – contrasting fretted-key cousin
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name shashtar mean?
“Six-stringed” in Persian (shash + tar).
How is it tuned?
Movable gut frets allow it to be set to the microtonal intervals of the chosen Persian dastgah.
Is it a traditional or modern instrument?
A modern instrument, designed in the twentieth century within the Persian classical tradition.
