Esraj

The esraj is a traditional Indian musical instrument that belongs to the family of bowed string instruments. Esraj has a wooden body with a hollow sound chamber. It has a long neck, frets, and a sound box covered with a tightly stretched goatskin membrane. It has four to five main playing strings made of metal or gut, which are plucked or bowed with a horsehair bow. It also features sympathetic strings that vibrate in resonance with the main strings, enhancing the overall tonal quality. The esraj produces a rich and resonant sound with a distinctive timbre. Its tone is often described as warm, smooth, and melancholic.