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ساتارsatarsatar

The satar, a bowed lute for the muqam

The satar is a Uyghur stringed instrument played with a bow. It is shaped like the tembur, has a very pleasant sound, and is an important instrument for playing the muqam.

Music2026.10.14
Fig. 1作成: Kenjisoft、無断転載禁止
Words in this article
پەدەfret; melodyكامانچەbow (of a stringed instrument)

1Shape

The satar is a long-necked instrument about 140 centimetres long, with a bowl about 16.5 centimetres across at its widest. The neck has eighteen tied frets. A shorter version is about 120 centimetres long.

Fig. 2Satar／ 作成: Kenjisoft、無断転載禁止

2Strings and sound

Only one melody string is bowed; many more strings are not played but sound in sympathy. Sources give different counts: seven to thirteen strings in all, or nine to seventeen sympathetic strings alone. The melody string is tuned to the voice of the lead singer of the muqam.

Sources (2)
  1. [1]ئۇيغۇر تىلىنىڭ ئىزاھلىق لۇغىتى（ug.wikipedia 転載）見出し語「ساتار」 (2026-10-14)
  2. [2]Wikipedia（英語版）「Sataer」 (2026-10-14)

How they are played

satar: The satar is a Uyghur stringed instrument played with a bow. It is shaped like the tembur, has a very pleasant sound, and is an important instrument for playing the muqam.

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