Sarod is an Indian classical music instrument. It originates from the Senya Rebab an Indio-persian instrument played in India from the 16th to the 19th century. Rajasthani, followed by Bengali instrument makers have definitely changed its shape. It has kept from its ancestor some characteristics: it is made of one piece of carved wood, the neck is fretless and the bridge is seated on a skin stretched on the body of the instrument.

Maihar's sarod, developed by Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, brother of the famous Ustad Allauddin Khan has 4 playing strings, played with the nails of the left hand, 2 rhythm strings tuned on the high tonic, 4 strings placed on a flat bridge near the neck, and at last 13 sympathetic strings tuned on the notes of the raga.

The musician uses the end of the nails to stop the string. The right hand hits the strings (but not the sympathetic strings) with a coconut wood plectrum.