The Esraj, also known sometimes as Israj, or Dilruba, is a string instrument found in two forms throughout the north, central, and east regions of India. It is a young instrument by Indian terms being only a couple hundred years old. The Dilruba is found in the north, where it is used in religious music, and light classical songs in the urban areas. The Esraj is found in the east and central areas, also often in Bengal and modern Bangladesh. It is used in a somewhat wider variety of musical styles than the Dilruba. A string instrument (also stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... For the breed of cat, see Bengal cat; for the tiger, see Bengal Tiger; for the American football franchise , see Cincinnati Bengals Bengal (Banga, Bangla, Bangadesh, or Bangladesh in Bengali) comprises a region in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent, today divided between the independent country of Bangladesh and the... The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh (Bangla: গনপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলােদশ) is a country in South Asia that forms the eastern part of the ancient region of Bengal. ...

The structure of both instruments is very similar, both having a medium sized Sitar-like neck with 20 heavy metal frets. This neck holds on a long wooden rack of 12-15 sympathic strings while the Dilruba has more sympathetic strings and a differently shaped body than the esraj. They both have 4 main strings which are bowed. All the strings are metal. The soundboard is a stretched piece of goatskin similar to what is found on a sarangi. Sometimes they have a gourd on the top for balance. Premla Shahane playing a sitar, 1927 The sitar is a Hindustani classical music instrument. ... The neck of a steel-string acoustic guitar showing the first four frets. ... Sarangi The sarangi is the most important bowed string instrument of Indias Hindustani classical music tradition. ... A gourd is a hollow, dried shell of a fruit in the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. ...

It can be rested between the knees while the player kneels, or more commonly rested on the knee of the player while sitting, instrument leaning on the left shoulder, played with a bow while using the hand to press the strings between the frets. You can then slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or sustained vibrations, characteristic of Indian music.