A small instrument with a very personal voice
The setar is one of the traditional instruments of Persian music: a small-bodied, long-necked string instrument, usually played with the fingernail of the index finger rather than a pick.
Its sound is not big or overpowering. It can be delicate, close and intimate — the kind of instrument that asks you to listen a little more carefully.
And that is part of what makes it special.
For centuries, the setar has been part of Persian classical music, used both for instrumental music and alongside the voice. Today, it still carries that tradition, but it does not have to belong only to concert halls, formal performances or the past.
It can simply be an instrument you keep beside you and learn to play for yourself.
Why is it called a setar if it has four strings?
This is probably one of the first questions people ask.
The name setar literally means “three strings” — se meaning three and tar meaning string.
Historically, the instrument did have three strings. The modern Persian setar usually has four. A fourth string was added later in the instrument’s development and is traditionally associated with the musician Moshtaq Ali Shah.
The old name stayed.
So yes: a setar usually has four strings.
And no, you are not the first person to wonder about it.
Listen to the Setar
Reading about an instrument can only tell you so much.
The easiest way to get to know the setar is simply to hear it.
Listen to a few short examples below. You do not need to know the technique, the mode or what is being played. For now, just listen to the different colours and characters the instrument can produce.
How is the setar played?
The setar is held close to the body, and its strings are usually plucked with the fingernail of the right index finger.
The left hand moves along the fretted neck to shape notes and melodies.
That simple description, of course, hides a whole world of possibilities. Small changes in the movement of a finger can change the attack, colour and expression of a note.
But you do not need to know any of that before you begin.
Your first job is much simpler:
hold the instrument comfortably, produce a clear sound and play your first few notes.
The rest comes step by step.
Is the setar difficult to learn?
Like any musical instrument, learning the setar takes time.
But there is a big difference between:
“It takes time to learn.”
and
“You need years of musical experience before you can start.”
You do not.
You do not need to read music.
You do not need to know Persian classical music.
You do not need previous experience with another instrument.
And you certainly do not need to sound like an accomplished musician after a few months.
You are allowed to be a beginner.
Do I need to read music?
No.
Music theory can become useful as you progress, but it does not need to stand between you and the instrument.
If you are starting from zero, we start from zero.
First come the instrument, the sound, the movement of your hands and the experience of actually playing.
We can give names and theory to things as they become useful.
Do I need to own a setar before I start?
Not necessarily.
If you already have a setar, wonderful.
If you do not, that is not a reason to postpone learning. Choosing your first instrument can be confusing, particularly when you have never played before and do not yet know what you should be looking for.
I can help you understand the basics before you buy — what matters, what does not, and what is suitable for a beginner.
A familiar sound. A new place in your life.
The setar has a long history. Its roots belong to Persian musical culture, and it remains an important instrument in Persian classical music.
But learning it today does not have to mean recreating another time or another life.
You can learn it in London.
In Lincoln.
In Toronto.
In Berlin.
At your desk after work.
Or in a spare half-hour before dinner.
An old instrument can still become part of a very modern life.A new skill. A familiar sound
My Setar
For me, the setar has never simply been the kind of music I listen to.
Pop, rap and Western music have all been part of my everyday listening for years.
But the setar has always occupied another place.
That music was my taste; the setar was mine.
It has stayed with me through study, work, motherhood, teaching and eventually a move from Tehran to England.
[Read My Setar and Me →]
Would you like to try?
Lessons are private, online, and taught in Persian.
You do not need previous musical experience.
You do not need hours of free time. Practice is designed to be short and consistent — around 20–30 minutes that can fit around work, family and everyday life.
And if you do not own a setar yet, we can talk about that too.
If this feels like an instrument you would like to make room for in your life, we can start with a free 20-minute conversation.
One day. Make it today.