Q: What are the differences between Ravi Shankar and Vilayat Khan style sitars?

A: The main difference is that the former have two extra bass strings (Low Pa and Low Sa) thus giving them an extra bass octave. There is some dispute about the where and when of this innovation, but it is usually attributed to Allaudin Khan, who wanted to add a surbahar-like dimension to the sitar. RS style sitars usually have the upper tumba, VK sitars never do. Also usually VK style sitars are more simply (or not at all) decorated. Since the VK sitars are going for a treble only sound, they usually have a different, slightly harder jawari. For differences is tuning please check our Sitar Tuning Page.