Apple Using the GarageBand Jam Pack: World Music Instruments - Manual (Page 22)

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The guzheng has a semi-circular wooden base over which a set of strings is stretched. It
has twelve or thirteen strings, which are commonly tuned to the notes of the
pentatonic scale, covering a range of four octaves. Players pluck the strings with picks
attached to their right-hand fingers while touching the strings with their left hand.
Playing techniques include bending notes and strumming the strings; the Chinese
Guzheng Zither Software Instrument includes both techniques, accessed using velocity
and the mod wheel.
Indian Sitar
The sitar is one of the most familiar instruments in Indian classical music. It developed
from earlier Indian and Persian instruments in the 18th century. Its singing tone made it
ideal for the Hindu style of playing extended, improvised melodies known as “raga.”
The word raga literally indicates the scale being used, but can also imply a piece with a
particular mood, intended for a particular purpose, or even meant to be played at a
specific time of day.
The sitar consists of a deep curved body, usually made from a gourd, and a long neck.
It has two sets of strings, one for playing melodies and one that vibrates in sympathy
with the played notes. Players pluck the melody strings with their right hand while
pressing them against the raised frets with their left hand. The sympathetic strings
below the frets resonate with different notes, giving the sitar its characteristic lush
sound. An instrument can have six or seven melody strings and twelve sympathetic
strings, and has a range of three octaves. The tuning of the melody strings can vary, but
usually consists of fifths, fourths, and octaves, for example: C#-G#-C#-F#-G#-C#. The
sympathetic strings are tuned to fit the notes of each raga.