The Banjira Sitar Chikari and Sympathetic String Set contains 15 steel strings with looped ends. The chikari are typically drone strings while the sympathetic strings vibrate on their own creating the overtones that give the sitar its distinctive sound. The tuning of the chikari and the sympathetic strings may vary with the school or style of music being played. Tuning and String Gauges: Chikari 1-2 .009 .234 Steel Sympathetic 1-13 .009 .234 Steel