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A setar (Persian: سه‌تار, pronounced [seˈt̪ʰɒːɾ]) is a stringed instrument, a type of lute used in Persian traditional music, played solo or accompanying voice.[1] It is a member of the tanbur family of long-necked lutes with a range of more than two and a half octaves.[1] Originally a three stringed instrument, a fourth string was added by Mushtaq Ali Shah by the mid 19th century.[1] It is played with the index finger of the right hand. It has been speculated that the setar originated in Persia by the 9th century C.E.[2] A more conservative estimate says "it originated in the 15th century, or even earlier."[1] Although related to the tanbur, in recent centuries, the setar has evolved so that, musically, it more closely resembles the tar, both in tuning and playing style.

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The tar (from Persian: تار, lit. 'string') is a long-necked, waisted lute family instrument, used by many cultures and countries including Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan (Iranian Plateau), Turkey, and others near the Caucasus and Central Asia regions.[1][2][3] The older and more complete name of the tār is čahārtār or čārtār (Persian: چارتار or چهارتار), meaning in Persian "four string", (čahār frequently being shorted to čār). This is in accordance with a practice common in Persian-speaking areas of distinguishing lutes on the basis of the number of strings originally employed. Beside the čārtār, these include the dotār (دوتار, “two string”), setār (سه‌تار, “three string”), pančtār (پنج‌تار “five string”), and šaštār or šeštār (شش‌تار “six string”). It was revised into its current sound range in the 18th century[4] and has since remained one of the most important musical instruments in Iran and the Caucasus, particularly in Persian music, while Azerbaijani music uses the Azerbaijani tar. It is the favoured instrument for radifs and mughams.

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