The main strings of a sitar are tuned to pitches corresponding closely to F3♯, C2♯, G2♯, G3♯, G3♯, C4♯, and C5♯ (i.e., in 4ths, 5ths, and octaves). Playing is predominantly on the F3♯ string, the tonic (sa) being at the 7th fret (C4♯). There are also 11 sympathetic strings tuned to the notes of the raga. The measured and calculated inharmonicity is far less than that of Western stringed instruments. Sitar strings are thin, giving small stiffness inharmonicity and low wave impedance that reduces random inharmonicities from bridge/belly resonances. String length variations from first mode rolling and/or sliding on the curved bridge profile produces FM and AM sidebands of ±f1 from the upper partials. These components join with both plucked and sympathetic string partials to give harmonically related narrow-band clumps. The resulting tone has complex time behavior but well-marked pitch. Tuning to just frequency ratios is required since the beats arising from excitation of a mistuned string are not smeared by roughness due to inharmonicity. Raman's observation that plucking at L/4 need not remove the 4th partial from the tone is confirmed. Bridge-generated FM/AM provides part of the explanation; shock excitation of sympathetic strings via the bridge provides the rest.