A guide to Persian instruments

Plucked strings

• Tar — a long-necked lute with a double-bowl body covered in thin skin; bright and powerful.
• Setar — “three strings” (it now usually has four), played with the fingernail; soft and intimate.
• Oud (barbat) — a short-necked, pear-shaped lute with a warm, round tone.

Struck and bowed strings

• Santur — a trapezoid box of many strings struck with light wooden hammers; shimmering and clear.
• Kamancheh — a small bowed instrument held upright on the knee. In 2017 UNESCO recognised the art of crafting and playing it, shared by Iran and Azerbaijan.

Wind

• Ney — an end-blown reed flute with a breathy, expressive sound.

Percussion

• Tombak — a goblet-shaped drum played with the fingers, capable of many different sounds.
• Daf — a large frame drum, often with rings inside the frame.