Shahi Baaja

The shahi baaja ("royal instrument") is an electrified and slightly modified version of the Indian bulbul tarang, a type of Indian zither to which have been added typewriter keys which depress several of the strings to change their pitch. The modifications also include the addition of 12 additional unfretted strings which serve as an attached swarmandal (drone harp).

The instrument is currently used in everything from semi-classical and popular Indian music to ambient techno, psychedelic rock and even Hebrew fusion music. The metal strings are plucked or strummed with picks while depressing the keys to change the notes. Some of the strings, which provide melody, are acted on by the keys, while the drone and sympathetic strings are not fretted. The instrument has 8 main strings, 2 sympathetic resonating strings and a 12-string electric drone harp.