Setar

A setar (Persian: سه‌تار, pronounced) (lit: "Three Strings") is a stringed instrument, a type of lute used in Persian traditional music, played solo or accompanying voice. It is a member of the tanbur family of long-necked lutes with a range of more than two and a half octaves. Originally a three stringed instrument, the addition of a fourth string is commonly credited to Sufi mystic and musician Moshtaq Ali Shah. It is played with the index finger of the right hand.

It has been speculated that the setar originated in Persia by the 9th century AD. A more conservative estimate says "it originated in the 15th century, or even earlier".

Although related to the tanbur, in recent centuries, the setar has evolved so that, musically, it more closely resembles the tar, both in tuning and playing style.