Dilruba
Dilruba with bow, in tun wood, made in our own workshop. Bowed and fretted, and the instrument most associated with Sikh devotional music.
Choosing yours
The dilruba is closely related to the esraj: bowed, fretted, with a skin belly and sympathetic strings. The neck is longer and the tone slightly deeper.
It is the instrument of shabad kirtan, and it is far more approachable than the sarangi because the frets do the intonation work.
Care and climate
Skin belly and gut or steel strings both react to climate. Keep it out of dry heat, slacken the bow after playing, and store away from direct sun.
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between a dilruba and an esraj?
The dilruba has a longer neck and a slightly deeper tone. They are otherwise very similar: both bowed, fretted, with sympathetic strings.
Is it used in Sikh music?
Yes, it is one of the central instruments of shabad kirtan.
Is it hard to learn?
Easier than the sarangi because it is fretted. The bowing hand still takes time to develop.