Tar (Lute)

The tar (Persian: تار [t̪ʰɒːɹ], lit. 'string') is an Iranian string instrument in the lute family, used by many cultures and countries in West Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Turkey. It is characterized by the long neck and hourglass shape of the body, and was originally known as the chahartar (چهارتار) or chartar (چارتار), which translates into Persian as 'four-stringed'. This is in accordance with a practice common in Persian-speaking areas of distinguishing lutes on the basis of the number of strings originally employed. Beside the chartar, these include the dutar (دوتار; 'two-stringed'), setar (سه‌تار; 'three-stringed'), panjtar (پنج‌تار; 'five-stringed'), and the shashtar (شش‌تار; 'six-stringed'). It was revised into its current sound range in the 18th century and has since remained one of the most important musical instruments in Iran and the Caucasus, particularly in Persian music, while Azerbaijani music uses the Azerbaijani tar. It is the favoured instrument for radifs and mughams.