The dilruba (also spelled dilrupa) is a stringed musical instrument from India. It is a type of bowed sitar that is slightly larger than an esraj and has a larger, square sound box similar to a sarangi. The dilruba is important in Sikh history.

It became more famous outside India in the 1960s when Western musicians, such as the Beatles during their psychedelic phase, used it in their songs. One example is the Beatles' song "Within You Without You."

Etymology

The name of the instrument comes from the Persian word "delrubā," which literally means "that which charms or steals the heart."

History

The traditional story says the dilruba was created about 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He designed it based on an older and heavier instrument called the taus. His changes made it easier for the Sikh army (the Khalsa) to carry the instrument while riding horses.

Some researchers question whether this traditional story is accurate. Certain traditional musicians, like Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi, have stated that the dilruba’s creation was linked to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and made by Mahant Gajja Singh.

After the British introduced the harmonium to the Indian Subcontinent, the dilruba was used less often because it was harder to learn compared to the harmonium. In recent years, the instrument has returned to popularity. It has been used by singers at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) since 2006 and is now taught more frequently in India and other parts of the world.

Construction

The dilruba is built similarly to the sitar, but it also has parts from the sarangi. It has a long neck with about 20 moveable metal frets. The instrument has 4 metal main strings and more than 20 sympathetic strings. Only the leftmost main string is played with a bow. The bottom of the instrument has a hollowed-out gourd or carved wood covered with stretched goatskin, like the sarangi.

Some dilrubas have a gourd attached to the top of the neck to help balance the instrument or adjust the sound.

To play the dilruba, the musician sits and places the bottom of the instrument in front of them or on their lap, with the neck resting on their left shoulder. The left hand moves along the frets to change the pitch of the leftmost string. The right hand holds the bow.

To create the sliding sound called portamento or meend, which is common in Indian music, the musician moves the left hand up and down the string instead of stretching it across the frets like on a sitar.