The surbahar is also known as bass sitar and is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of North India. The surbahar was developed around 1825 and its invention is generally attributed to Ustad Sahebdad Khan, although recent research shows that it may actually have been invented by a lesser known Lucknow-based sitarist named Ustad Ghulam Mohammed.

The surbahar is over 130 cm (51 inches) long, uses a dried pumpkin as a resonator, and has its neck made of Cedrela Tuna or teak wood. Its neck has very long frets that allow a glissando of six notes on the same fret by the method of pulling. The surbahar has four rhythm strings, four playing strings and 15 to 17 unplayed sympathetic strings. All these strings lie on a flat bridge. The strings are played by the mizrab. Three metallic plectrums are used to play the Dhrupad Style of Alaap, Jod and Jhala on the Surbahar. In the first style of its playing, the Surbahar, is played in accompaniment with the pakhawaj.