The term 'Stringed Asian Instrument' can be summarized as the SITAR, a 5 letter word. The SITAR is a plucked stringed instrument used mainly in Hindustani classical music. It has a long neck with a gourd-shaped resonance chamber and a flat bridge. It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during the Middle Ages. The SITAR is played by plucking the strings with a plectrum and is often accompanied by tabla, a percussion instrument.