"In the past few thousand years, various techniques have been used for playing the instruments of the setar family. Sometimes they were played with one finger and sometimes with a few fingers; sometimes they were played using the side of the nail and sometimes with the tip of the nail.

In the past few hundred years, the setar has mostly been played with the nail of the forefinger. The thumb was also used by some masters. Sometimes the performer plays with some of the older techniques which use the nail and the tip of the finger.

He can also use his creativity in combining the various techniques. This form of playing was customary in ancient times and one was free to ornament one's expression with different techniques. By using different techniques, various timbres and a larger range of dynamics are attained."