Which Setar mizrab is the best to buy?

widespread recognition and acclaim in recent years. If you play right-handed, you’ll use your right index finger’s nail, and if you play left-handed, your left index finger’s nail will do. In any case, special tools called “mizrab” have been invented to make playing the setar simpler for individuals who are unable to play the instrument with their own fingernails. Read on to learn more about what a mizrab is and how you might use it.

What is a Setar mizrab?

The Setar is a plucked instrument with four steel and brass strings. While experienced musicians may shy away from using a Setar mizrab, it can be a lifesaver for students and novices who struggle to keep their fingers stable enough to accurately strike the strings.

Setar is one of the plectrum instruments that are played using a mizrab. This tool is great for students and musicians who are unable to use their fingers or nails to play the instrument. Several various types of setar mizrabs are presently on the market.

 

Types of Setar mizrabs

 

Wire or Metal Models

The most traditional and widely used kind of Setar mizrab is made of wire. Wire mizrabs are created with a metal strip and a wire. The wire is wrapped around the metal strip twice during production of these mizrabs. It is also quite easy to implement. You may wear the beater like a ring by placing it on your index finger and tucking the wire beneath your nail. It’s important to keep the mizrab in a fixed position, even when shaking hands.

Any local music store should have wire mizrabs for sale. Wire mizrabs, on the other hand, are flimsy and can easily fall off the finger. Of course, you may get contemporary mizrabs without as much worry of losing it because it has two wire loops. Wire mizrabs provide a sound that is both cleaner and more resonant than that produced by other types.

Shakh Mizrab

The shakh model of the setar mizrab is made completely of animal branches because, according to some makers, the sound generated by the instrument is comparable to that of playing with nails. This specific mizrab is perfect for the job at hand. Like the wire variants, the shakh mizrab is affixed to the nail. The leather loop that encircles the shakh mizrab sets it apart from the wire mizrab in terms of appearance and feel.

The shakh mizrab’s sound is most akin to that of fingernail tapping. Therefore, this type of Setar mizrab may also be used by professional players.

 

Plastic Models

The plastic setar is a rarer subset of the overall setar family. Plastic models are less popular among students. Finger widths of 16–17 centimeters and mizrab dimensions of 20–20–30 millimeters characterize this variety. Plastic models are more affordable than shakh and wire models because they are made from more affordable materials.

Which type of setar mizrab use for playing?

There are no universally accepted guidelines for determining the optimal setar mizrab material and model. Instead, the choice must be made by the participant or learner. Therefore, it all comes down to the individual needs and goals of the student. The mizrab can be played in a variety of ways, depending on the musician’s desired effect. The level of familiarity with the setar mizrab might also play a role in making a final decision.

Right- and Left-Hand mizrab

Right hand mizrab and left hand mizrab are two types of strumming used on the setar. The right-hand mizrab technique, often known as the “eight” in Persian, involves a strumming motion that goes from high to low. The right-hand strumming method is more powerful and intense than the left-hand strumming approach.

Conversely, the number seven represents the left-hand strumming technique. Using the backs of your fingernails and an outward motion of your palm, you may create the distinctive sound of left-hand strumming. Left-handed strumming often lacks the punch of its right-handed counterpart. Therefore, the right-hand strumming method is prioritized above the left-hand strumming approach.

Conclusion

Popular in Iran, the Setar is played entirely with the fingers and toenails. The instrument is played only with the fingernails of expert musicians. Setar mizrabs allow students and others who cannot use their hand nails to play the setar. In order to assist you become more familiar with mizrab, this article described the Setar mizrab and its functions.