Engineering:Chikara (instrument)

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Short description: Instrument
Chikara
Horniman instruments 20.jpg
Chikara (second from left in foreground, #220) in the Horniman museum, London, UK.
String instrument
Classification String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification
(Composite chordophone)
Related instruments
Chikari

The chikara is a bowed stringed musical instrument from India used to play Indian folk music. It is used by the tribal people of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Description

The chikara is a simple spike fiddle played, similarly to the sarangi or sarinda, by sliding fingernails on the strings rather than pressing them to touch the fingerboard.[1] It has 3 strings, two horse hair and one steel,[2] in 3 courses and is tuned C, F, G.

Ambiguity

The term "chikara" is often used ambiguously to describe a variety of unrelated folk fiddles of northern India.[3]

Related Instruments

  • Chikari, smaller version of chikara.
  • Sarangi

References