TAR

(Iranian: string), long-necked lute descended from the tanbur of Sasanian Iran and known in a variety of forms throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia. Its name traditionally signified the number of strings employede.g., dutar (two-strings), setar (three-strings), and cartar (four-strings)but this is no longer true, as the sitar of India has up to seven strings. The body of the tar is hollowed out of a single piece of wood and is usually rounded, although the Georgian version is octagonal, and the waisted tar of Turkey is so named because of its exaggerated hourglass figure. The instrument, which is played with a small metal pick, has a membrane belly, spike, movable frets, and lateral pegs for the metal strings that are rib-fastened.