How the dotara makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the dotara belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
(Assamese: দোতোৰা dütüra, দোতৰা dütora, Bengali: দোতারা; Rangpuri: দোতোৰা/দোতোরা dotora), is a two-stringed, plucked musical instrument from South Asia, with most contemporary models having four playing strings (similar to the sarod). Comparatively, the sarod is a slightly larger and more elaborate instrument, being built with an additional set of resonant sympathetic strings. However, the dotara is still quite resonant and projective of its own sound, due to its rounded shape and overall construction. It is commonly played in Bangladesh (where it is known as the national instrument) and the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. It was mentioned in a 14th-century Saptakanda Ramayana. Later, it was adopted by the ascetic cults of Bauls and Fakirs. Today, it is also used to play Hindustani Classical Ragas.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a dotara sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the dotara?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.322).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q611259 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Dotara – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Aniruddha Buragohain – CC BY-SA 3.0