The word sitar is derived from the Persian word sehtar, meaning “three-stringed.” The instrument appears to have descended from long-necked lutes taken to India from Central Asia. A traditional Indian instrument, the sitar can have up to 20 strings, seven of which are played and the remainder act as “sympathy” strings giving the sitar its unique sound. The sitar is believed to have evolved into its current form around the 1700s and particularly prevalent to classical Indian music, especially in the Northern region of Hindustan.