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- What the Persian setar is — history, shape, sound, and Sufi connection
- How the setar is constructed and why it now has four strings, not three
- How the setar is played — fingernail technique and meditative style
- Setar vs tar — a clear side-by-side comparison
- Persian music vocabulary specific to the setar's four strings
- Whether children and beginners should start with the setar, and how to learn online
What Is the Setar? A Beginner's Guide to Persia's Most Intimate Instrument
The setar — سهتار — is the most personal instrument in Persian classical music. Where the tar fills a concert hall, the setar speaks quietly to a single listener. For over a thousand years it has been the instrument of poets, mystics, and solitary contemplation — small enough to rest in your lap, intimate enough to be played for no audience at all.
This guide explains what the setar is, where it came from, how it differs from its louder cousin the tar, and how beginners — including children — can start learning it, with Persian terminology included throughout.
If you'd like to hear the setar before reading further, or compare it directly with the tar, see our companion guide: What Is the Persian Tar?
Quick answer: The setar is a small, pear-shaped, four-stringed Persian instrument played by plucking with the index fingernail — not a plectrum. Its name means "three strings," reflecting its origin over 1,000 years ago, before a fourth string was added in the 18th century. It is known for its soft, introspective sound and deep association with Sufi and meditative music.
The History of the Setar — Persia's Oldest Living Instrument
The name setar comes from two Persian words: seh (سه) meaning "three," and tar (تار) meaning "string." Despite the name, the modern setar has four strings — a fourth string, the zang (drone string), was added during the 18th century to give the instrument more harmonic depth. The name, however, stayed unchanged, a small linguistic fossil of its older form.
The setar's origins reach back over a thousand years, with roots tracing to the ancient barbat, an early lute-shaped instrument. Unlike the tar, which developed for performance and ensemble playing, the setar has always been closely tied to Sufi practice — used in private devotional and meditative settings rather than public performance. Its quiet voice was, by design, not meant to carry beyond a small room.
This history matters for how the instrument is taught and experienced today. Many Persian musicians describe the setar as an instrument you play for yourself first, and for others only later — a philosophy that shapes how lessons are structured even now.
What Does the Setar Look Like?
The setar is small and elegant — a single pear-shaped wooden body with a long, slender neck, typically carved from mulberry wood. Unlike the tar's skin soundboard, the setar's entire body — including the soundboard — is wood, which contributes to its softer, rounder tone.
The Body — کاسه
A single pear-shaped resonating chamber, carved from mulberry wood. Much smaller than the tar's double-bowl body — the setar typically rests on the player's lap or chest.
The Soundboard — رویه
Made entirely of thin wood, unlike the tar's skin membrane. This gives the setar a softer, more rounded tone with less percussive attack.
The Neck — دسته
Long and narrow, with around 25–27 movable gut frets — slightly more than the tar — allowing the same Persian microtonal intervals across a wide range.
The Four Strings
Two melody strings (often called the white and yellow strings), a bass string (bam), and the added drone string (zang) — each with a distinct traditional name and role.
The Fingernail
No plectrum is used. The player grows and shapes the nail of the right index finger, which becomes, in effect, part of the instrument itself.
The Tuning Pegs — گوشی
Four wooden friction pegs, one per string. Setar tuning varies by dastgah (mode) and by individual player tradition.
What Does the Setar Sound Like?
The setar's voice is soft, breathy, and intimate — closer to a whisper than a statement. Because the entire body is wood and the player uses only a fingernail, there is none of the tar's percussive brightness. Instead, the setar produces a warm, slightly nasal tone with a natural sustain that lends itself to slow, contemplative melodic lines.
This is part of why the setar has been historically associated with Sufi zekr (devotional remembrance) and solitary practice — the sound does not project outward; it draws the listener in. Many describe playing the setar as closer to an internal conversation than a performance.
Sim-e sefid (white string) — the first melody string, traditionally the highest in pitch.
Sim-e zard (yellow string) — the second melody string, paired closely with the white string in playing.
Sim-e bam (bass string) — the lowest string, providing the foundational drone tone.
Sim-e zang (bell/drone string) — the fourth string, added in the 18th century, often played as an open drone alongside melody.
How Is the Setar Played?
The setar is held upright, resting on the player's lap or against the chest, with the neck angled upward. The left hand presses the strings against the movable frets exactly as with the tar — producing the same Persian microtonal system — but the right hand technique is entirely different.
Instead of a metal plectrum, the setar player plucks with the nail of the right index finger, sometimes assisted lightly by the middle finger. This technique — called zarb-e angosht (finger strike) — produces rapid, delicate strokes and tremolo passages that are central to the setar's expressive vocabulary. Developing the right fingernail shape and strength is one of the first things a setar teacher will guide a student through.
For beginners: Because the setar requires no external pick, some students find the initial physical barrier to making a sound lower than on the tar. However, fingernail technique requires its own patience — nails need time to develop the right shape and strength, and this is something a teacher will guide carefully from lesson one.
Setar vs Tar — Which Should You Learn?
Both instruments share the same Persian modal system (dastgah) and the same movable-fret microtonal approach — so skills transfer between them more than you might expect. The decision often comes down to sound, context, and temperament rather than difficulty.
| Feature | Setar — سهتار | Tar — تار |
|---|---|---|
| Number of strings | 4 | 6 (three double courses) |
| Played with | Index fingernail | Brass plectrum (mezrāb) |
| Soundboard | Wood | Lambskin membrane |
| Volume | Quiet, intimate | Louder, fuller projection |
| Tone character | Soft, breathy, introspective | Warm, percussive, rich |
| Traditional context | Sufi devotion, solo meditation | Ensembles, vocal accompaniment, concerts |
| Body size | Small, single pear-shaped body | Larger, double-bowl body |
| Good first instrument for children? | Often yes — lighter, no plectrum needed | Possible from around age 8 |
For a deeper look at the tar — its history, sound, and how it's played — see our full guide: What Is the Persian Tar?
Can You Learn the Setar Online?
Yes — and in some ways the setar translates particularly well to online lessons. Because the instrument is quiet and the technique is centred on the right hand's fingernail position, a teacher can observe and correct hand placement clearly over video in a private one-to-one session.
- Private one-to-one format — essential for correcting fingernail technique and posture from the very first lessons
- Native Persian-speaking teachers — many setar concepts, especially around dastgah and the spiritual context of the instrument, are best explained by someone steeped in the tradition
- Good for quiet home environments — the setar's soft volume makes it one of the most apartment-friendly traditional instruments to practise
- Flexible scheduling across time zones — particularly valuable for diaspora families wanting consistent weekly lessons
Danaa School offers private online setar lessons with professional Persian musicians, alongside tar, santur, and other instruments — taught in Persian, English, or German.
Is the Setar Right for You?
Younger children
The setar's smaller size and lack of a plectrum often make it a gentler entry point for children younger than the typical starting age for the tar.
Adults seeking a meditative practice
If you're drawn to music as personal reflection rather than performance, the setar's quiet, introspective character is unmatched among Persian instruments.
Apartment dwellers
Its naturally quiet volume makes the setar one of the most practical traditional instruments to practise daily without disturbing neighbours.
Those drawn to Sufi and spiritual music
For students interested in the mystical dimension of Persian culture — alongside Rumi and Hafez — the setar is the instrument most historically tied to that world.
Online Setar Lessons With Professional Persian Musicians
Private one-to-one sessions for beginners, children, and advanced students. Taught in Persian, English, or German — from wherever you are in the world.
Book Your Free Trial Lesson →"Setar" means "three strings" in Persian (seh = three, tar = string). The instrument originally had three strings; a fourth — the zang, or drone string — was added in the 18th century to give it more harmonic depth. The name remained unchanged even after the addition.
Not necessarily easier — but different. The setar requires no plectrum, which removes one barrier for absolute beginners, but fingernail technique has its own learning curve. Both instruments share the same Persian modal system, so the underlying musical knowledge transfers either way.
The setar has deep historical ties to Sufi devotional practice and solo, meditative playing. Unlike the tar, which is used in ensembles and to accompany singers, the setar was traditionally played privately — for personal reflection rather than public performance.
Yes — the setar's smaller body and lack of a plectrum often make it a gentler starting instrument for younger children than the tar. Many teachers recommend the setar as a first instrument before progressing to tar if a student wishes to.
The four strings have traditional names: sim-e sefid (white string), sim-e zard (yellow string), sim-e bam (bass string), and sim-e zang (the added drone string). Each plays a distinct role in melody and harmonic support.
Yes — the setar is one of the quietest traditional Persian instruments, making it especially practical for apartment living and shared spaces where daily practice needs to be unobtrusive.
