Tuning of santur - کوکهای مختلف سنتور

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions about santur is how to tune it. In this posting, I am going to describe 14 different tuning guides for 7 Iranian musical systems (2 for each). This guide is for a normal standard 9/9 santur.

Shur Sol (G)

Probably the most common tuning system for santur. You can also play Shur's 5 sub-systems using this tuning model: Dashti, Abu Ata, Bayat Tork, Afshari and Bayat Kord.

* Semi-flat: between neutral state and flat. Koron (near to one-quarter-tone flatter)

* Forth bridge of white register: You need to move the bridge towards the right (a few millimeters) to create semi-flat at right and flat at left.

* There are several variants for Shur Sol. Two of them are demonstrated here:

* Please note that over the 7th bridge wouldn't be used in this model, as we move the bridge towards the left to create D semi-flat (normally it is D).

* Please note that you can move the first yellow bridge towards right and tune it in a way that you have a bass C, which might be very useful in some pieces.

Homayoun Sol (G) - Isfahan Do (C)

Homayoun G is centralized around A semi flat however the end note is always G. Isfahan as a subsystem of Homayoun can be played using the same tuning arrangement.

* 9th bridge yellow F can be tuned F or F sharp depending on the piece.

* Sometimes you can tune the 1st bridge yellow E to E semi flat. In very old times, they didn't use E for Homayoun. E semi flat was the right interval.

Navaa Sol (G)

In most santur books, Navaa Do (C) is used in rastkuk systems; however, according to Master Payvar, Navaa Sol (G) is rastkuk and is more suitable for male vocalists.

Chahargah Sol (G)

The same confusion has happened for Chahargah. The right-tuned chahargah is actually in G and the left-tuned (Chapkuk) Chahargah is in Do (C), which you will see further down.

Mahour and Rast-Panjgah Fa (F)

In santur, the right-tuned Mahour is not played from G. It's one tone lower and from F. If you would like to accompany an instrument playing Mahour on G, you can use an A-tuned santur, in which every note sounds one tone higher.

* You can move the 7th white bridge to the left and creat D semi-flat for Delkash and Raak.

Segah La Koron (A semi-flat)