Although this musical instrument has 20 strings, only 6 or 7 of them are plucked. The other 13 or 14 simply vibrate to give resonance. What instrument is this?

The secret to this instrument's iconic, shimmering sound lies in its complex, dual-layered string system. A musician actively plucks or strums the six or seven main strings to create the melody and drone (Deals). However, running underneath the frets is a second, larger set of 13 or 14 thinner "sympathetic strings." These are never touched by the player. Instead, they vibrate on their own—in sympathy—when their corresponding notes are played on the main strings above. This creates a rich, ethereal halo of resonance that gives the Indian sitar its distinctive and celebrated voice.

A prominent instrument in Hindustani classical music for centuries, the sitar was introduced to audiences worldwide largely through the efforts of virtuoso Ravi Shankar. Its unique sound captured the imagination of Western musicians in the 1960s, most famously George Harrison of The Beatles. After studying with Shankar, Harrison featured the sitar on the song "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," sparking a global fascination with the instrument and its mesmerizing, resonant tones that continues to this day.