How to make a Mizrab … in one minute
Here is my ” how to make mizrab ” ( .wmv, 683kB ) instructions, which I’ve learned from Hari Chand.
If you can read Hindi, please find some more details here.
Sitar Factory
sitarfactory.be is a casual magazine about sitar making, India and I
A copper wire is ideal for exercising purpose. You can practise with a piece of kharaj string (0.72 – 0.82 mm) and, even a more thicker copper wire ( + 0.82 mm) can result in a usable mizrab. It will give you a more soft tone when hitting the strings but the mizrab itself may become deformed after some time and it may easily become loose on the finger.
A standard mizrab is made of medium hard steel wire of 0.82 mm (N°16). Piano wire can also be used, but it might feel too springy to bend and wind.
In any case it will not be easy and you will better use a rather heavy tweezer to wind the wire.
Most difficult is taking the measurement (lenght) of the wire and its bending location to result in a nicely fitting mizrab. Learn by doing…
Succes !!
My best time ? Not under 30 minutes 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hmmm, I’ve got 2 questions :
1> Which kind of steel do you use ? I’m trying with string that we call “piano string” but in fact it’s not “piano string”. It’s a string which is used in air models. Maybe this steel is too hard ?
2> Which kind of tweezer do we have to use ? Hard steel is not easy to wind !
I’ve also tried with copper but I will NOT send a picture 🙂
Thanks.
Pingback: Sitar Factory » How to make a mizrab, the translation
Thierry, you are very brave. What is your best time in making a mizrab ?
Keep on exercising !!
Soon I will publish the translation and if you want I will be glad to give you a course.
Heuu, well … I tried and … not easy to do it in one minute 🙂
The result was … how can I say ? …indescribable :-))))
I’m waiting the translation of the sheet in Hindi.
Maybe I will have more success :-)))))
Or Klaas can you give a course ?