Santoor
Santoor, the hammered box zither of Kashmir, from Kanai Lal & Sons and our own workshop. Strung and tuned before dispatch.
Choosing yours
The santoor is played with two light wooden mallets on a trapezoid box carrying many courses of strings. It has a long shimmering sustain and no damping mechanism, so control comes from technique.
Instruments are described by note count, commonly around 31 notes across roughly 93 strings. More notes means more range and more tuning work.
Care and climate
Many strings means considerable tension on the box. Keep it away from dry heat and slacken nothing without reason: santoor tuning is slow to restore.
Questions we get asked
How many strings does a santoor have?
Commonly around 93 strings in courses giving about 31 notes. The exact count is on each product page.
Is it played with the hands?
No, with two light wooden mallets. The hands are used only to damp.
How often does it need tuning?
Frequently compared with other instruments, simply because there are so many strings. Most players tune before each session.