How to Tune a Setar: A Comprehensive Guide
The setar is one of the stringed and mezrabi instruments of Iranian music, which is played with the nails of the index finger or plectrum. Contrary to its name that means the 3-stringed instrument, setar consists of four strings. The setar is a native Iranian instrument, and many music schools teach their students how to play it. In order to be able to play a beautiful song with an instrument, it is necessary to tune it well. One of the issues about this instrument is its tuning. In this article, the setar tuning and its related points are explained.
Methods of Tuning a Setar
There are two primary methods for tuning a setar:
- Using a Tuner (Electronic Method) – The simplest way to tune a setar is by using an electronic tuner, ensuring precise pitch accuracy.
- Aural or Auditory Method – This requires a trained ear and experience in recognizing musical notes. It involves tuning one string to a reference pitch and adjusting the others accordingly.
If you choose the auditory method, follow these steps:
- Start by tuning the first string using a tuner or another reference instrument.
- Use the G fret on the first string as a reference and adjust the second string to match.
- Pluck the string multiple times to memorize the pitch before adjusting the others.
- Continue tuning the remaining strings by matching them to the correctly tuned string.
To ensure accuracy, keep a tuner handy for verification.
In How Many Ways Can You Tune A Setar?
The method mentioned above is called the “C-G-C-C” tuning and is recognized by most music professionals as the basic setar tuning. But it is good to know that this method is not the only method of tuning a setar. But you can use many other methods to tune your instrument. Some of the common tuning methods are:
General Tuning Conditions
| Tone & String Condition | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-pitched sound with tight strings | C | G | C | C |
| Two half-steps lower tuning | B♭ | F | B♭ | B♭ |
| Three half-steps lower tuning | A | E | A | A |
Shur Dastgah Tunings
Shur is the primary dastgah in Iranian music, from which most other dastgahs and songs are derived, except for the Dastgah of Chahargah.
| Tuning Type | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shur Sol | C | G | C | F |
| Shur Re | C | G | D | D |
| Shur Do | C | F | C | C |
| Shur La | C | G | A | D |
Abu Ata Dastgah Tunings (Related to Shur)
| Tuning Type | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Ata Do | C | G | C | F | Derived from Shur Sol |
| Abu Ata Sol | C | G | D | D | Derived from Shur Re |
| Abu Ata Fa | C | F | C | C | Derived from Shur Do |
| Abu Ata Re | C | G | A | D | Derived from Shur La |
Bayat Turk Dastgah Tunings
For the Bayat Turk, as described by Iranian musician Ahmad Abadi:
| Tuning Type | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayat Turk C♭ | C | F | C♭ | C♭ |
| Bayat Turk Standard | C | G | C♭ | F |
| Bayat Turk Do | C | G | C | C |
| Bayat Turk E♭ | C | F | E♭ | E♭ |
| Bayat Turk Fa | C | F | C | C |
Other Dastgahs
| Dastgah | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afshari Dastgah | C | G | C | C |
| Dashti Dastgah | C | G | A | D |
Homayoun Dastgah Tunings (Similar to Abu Ata)
Homayoun Dastgah shares the same tunings as Abu Ata in terms of the setar:
| Tuning Type | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homayoun Mi Karan | C | G | D | D |
| Homayoun Re Karan | C | G | C | C |
| Homayoun La Karan | C | G | A♭ | D |
| Homayoun La Karan 2 | C | F | G | C |
| Homayoun Sol Karan | C | F | G♯ | E♭ |
Mahour Dastgah Tunings
Mahour Dastgah offers the greatest tonal range for the setar. It is the base tuning for the instrument:
| Tuning Type | String 1 | String 2 | String 3 | String 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahour Do | C | G | C | C |
| Mahour Standard | C | F | C | C |
| Mahour Sol | C | G | C | F |
Conclusion
The setar is one of the oldest and most popular Iranian instruments, which belongs to the family of the tanbur instrument. This instrument used to have three strings. But with the passing of time and various changes in the instrument, the fourth string has also been added to it. In order to get the best possible sound from an instrument, it must be tuned in the right way. To learn more about how to tune a setar, this article explains about setar and different tuning methods.
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