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A powerful 20-string lap-slide derived from the design of archtop Hawaiian guitars, devised by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
–Raga instruments (full list)–
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—Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Gaoti)—
“Indian string instruments have undergone many changes throughout history, and many Western instruments like the violin, harmonium, mandolin, archtop guitar, and electric guitar have come to be accepted in classical music. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt developed and named this hybrid slide guitar…a highly modified archtop [with] 19 strings: 3 melody strings, 4 drones, and 12 sympathetic strings. The drone strings are lower in height than the melody strings to allow for unrestricted playing…The instrument has a carved spruced top, mahogany neck, back, and sides, and a flat, fretless, rosewood fingerboard. The Mohan Veena is under tremendous tension; the total string-pull [is] in excess of 500 lb…The tone is incredible; a loud instrument made to cut through with low amplification…” (Vishwa Mohan Bhatt)
—More Info—
- Sa pitch: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt usually tunes to concert D, sometimes going down to C# (n.b. Debashish Bhattacharya’s most prominent chaturangi recordings are also usually in D, and also less often in C#) [see my Survey of Sa Tunings for more].
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• Hindustani Instruments: Anandi | Bansuri | Bass-Veena | Bazantar | Bulbul Tarang | Cello | Chaturangi | Dilruba | Electric Guitar | Esraj | Fretless Guitar | Harmonium | Jal Tarang | Jori | Mandolin | Mohan Veena | Nal Tarang | Pakhawaj | Piano | Rabab | Rudra Veena | Sagar Veena | Santoor | Sarangi | Sarod | Saxophone | Shehnai | Sitar | Surbahar | Sursagar | Sursingar | Swarmandal | Tabla | Tabla Tarang | Tanpura | Tar Shehnai | Taus | Vichtra Veena | Violin
–Survey of Sa tunings–
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—Hindustani Raga Index—
An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more besides!
–Megalist (365+ ragas)–
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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!
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