The Sato ( Uzbek: Сато) is a bowed tanbur, or long-necked lute, played by performers of Central Asian classical and folk music, mainly in Uzbekistan. [1] It has five strings. When plucked, the top string is pressed to the neck to produce a melody; the other four strings are drone strings. [1] Frets on the neck are made of tied string. [2] The soundboard has holes drilled in it for sound holes. [2] It is made from mulberry wood. [2]
Famous Uzbek musician Turgun Alimatov is solely responsible for reviving the art of playing the Sato, as it had completely disappeared for a number of centuries before he took it up in 1957. Thus he has been considered as the founder of the Sato and its playing style and technique. [3] [4] Professor Abduvali Abdurashidov is the foremost teacher of Sato and composer of the art of Shash Maqom (also called Shashmaqam) in Tajikistan.