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Thedotara ordotar (Assamese:দোতোৰাdütüra, দোতৰাdütora,Bengali:দোতারা;Rangpuri:দোতোৰা/দোতোরাdotora), (literally, “Of [or ‘having’] two strings”) is a two-stringed, pluckedmusical instrument from South Asia, with most contemporary models having four playing strings (similar to thesarod). Comparatively, the sarod is a slightly larger and more elaborate instrument, being built with an additional set of resonantsympathetic strings. However, the dotara is still quite resonant and projective of its own sound, due to its rounded shape and overall construction. It is commonly played inBangladesh (where it is known as thenational instrument)[1] and theIndian states ofAssam,West Bengal andBihar. It was mentioned in a 14th-centurySaptakanda Ramayana. Later, it was adopted by the ascetic cults ofBauls andFakirs.[2] Today, it is also used to playHindustani ClassicalRagas.
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The word is fromEastern Indo-Aryan (do târ), literally "two strings", or “double-stringed”, with the suffix “-a” indicating “having, -ed”. The instrument is known asdotara ordütara (Bengali:দোতারা,Assamese:দোতাৰা) anddütüra (Assamese:দোতোৰা). Additionally, it was believed to have been called dotara due to the strings being of equal pitch in tuning.
Madhava Kandali, 14th centuryAssamese poet and writer ofSaptakanda Ramayana, lists several instruments in his version of "Ramayana", such as Dotara,mardala,tabal,jhajhar etc.[3]
The dotara is a plucked stringed instrument, played in an open note combination, often played alongside folk percussive instruments such asDhol,Khhol orMandira. It is made out ofneem or other hardwood, with an elongated, roundish belly for a soundbox, which tapers to a narrow neck culminating in a peg box which is often elaborately carved in the shape of a peacock-head, swan-head or other animal motifs. The fingerboard is fretless and made of brass or steel, as in a sarod. The soundbox of the instrument is covered with a tightly stretchedkidskin or lizard-skin, as in arabaab or a sarod.
With four strings, the dotara is tuned as follows (from top to bottom)—Soh (lower)-Do-Do-Fah. The Indian notation would read: Pa - Sa - Sa - Ma with Do/Sa being the tonic/root note of the song.
Thedotara is the national instrument of Bangladesh.