Which of the following instrument is without frets ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The Sarod is a highly distinctive and important fretless plucked string instrument in Hindustani classical music. The absence of frets is its defining characteristic, setting it apart from other lutes like the Sitar and Veena. Instead of pressing the strings against wooden or metal frets, the Sarod musician presses the strings against a polished chrome or steel fingerboard with their fingernails. This specialized technique allows for the precise and continuous glides (meend) and complex ornamentations (gamak) that are central to the Hindustani classical style, enabling the instrument to mimic the human voice with unparalleled fluidity and microtonal accuracy.

The incorrect option is 1:
The Sitar is fundamentally a fretted instrument. It utilizes characteristic curved, movable metal frets that are tied to the neck with thread, allowing them to be adjusted according to the specific Raga being performed. The presence of these frets is essential to the Sitar's unique sound, as the musician is able to press and pull the main string across the fret to achieve pitch bending and ornamentation. Without these frets, the Sitar would lose its defining playing characteristics.

The incorrect option is 2:
The Israj, or Esraj, is a bowed string instrument structurally designed as a lute. Like the Sitar and Dilruba, the Israj is a fretted instrument, typically featuring a neck with multiple metal frets. The player stops the strings by pressing against these frets to produce fixed notes. Therefore, it does not fall into the category of fretless instruments.

The incorrect option is 3:
The Dilruba is closely related to the Israj and is also a bowed string instrument. It is structurally similar, having a neck that is equipped with fixed or movable frets, which the musician uses to manipulate the pitch. The presence of frets is what makes the Dilruba a different class of instrument from the Sarod or Sarangi, which are inherently fretless.