Tar

The tar is a member of the lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-6). It originates from Azerbaijan and Iran. Listen to 4 recordings and learn how it makes its sound.

Listen to the tar

"Jack Tar", played by the U.S. Naval Academy Band

2:26Public domainby USNA BandWikimedia Commons

2:26

Tar player from Space (Antti Luode)

2:48CC BY 3.0by Antti LuodeWikimedia Commons

2:48

H.M.S. Pinafore (HMV, 1924) - 08. A British tar - Refrain, audacious tar

4:25Public domainby His Master's VoiceWikimedia Commons

4:25

Ungersven tar uppå flickans tår - SMV - SVA BB 5356 19

4:43CC0 1.0Wikimedia Commons

4:43

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

How the tar makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tar 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.

Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.

From Wikipedia

The tar 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.