The Dilruba is a fiddle-like instrument that is played with a bow. It is carved from wood, has a goatskin soundboard, with main and sympathetic strings. A bow is drawn across the strings, causing them to resonate, and the bridges are moveable to adjust the tone.
The Israj is an Indian classical instrument very similar to a Dilruba. Most Israjs have 4 steel/bronze playing strings and 11-15 sympathetic strings. They are both played with a violin bow.
The Sarangi has no frets or fingerboard. It has four main strings that lay over the sympathetic strings. The bow is held palm upwards. It is drawn across the main strings, just above the bridge. The fingers of the left hand note the strings. This is done by pressing and sliding the bottom of the fingernail against the side of the string. Players often use talcum powder on their palms to facilitate the gliding of the hand up and down the neck. The gliding of your nails along the strings creates the sound characteristic of Hindustani music.
