Description: The ektara is a single-stringed chordophone; traditionally the ektara was stretched with an animal hide bottom. Whilst some of the modern or recently made ektara’s may have a bottom made from a synthetic material in which allows for a bit of stretching during play. A two stringed ektara is sometimes found and referred to as a “dotara” (not to be confused with the Bengali lute). The ektara is often tuned to the musician’s vocal range where they figure out the bass-note in which works for them. Also the ektara is often played by Sadhu's or who are the (holy saints). And also employed in Sufi chanting along, being also employed by the Bauls of India too. In North India 20 different kinds or varieties of ektara exist. The Ektara has been made popular in North America, during the 1970s; the ektara was introduced by devotional Kirtan wallahs, such as the legendary Western sadhu Bhagavan Das who is the author of Its Here Now, Are You? And he also has published the book entitled “Be Here Now” and in 1970s fame and kirtan recording artist.

Playing the Ektara: During the performance when the musician holds, the instrument in his right hand, the right hand squeezes the two pieces of bamboo, in which allows the compression or the tension of the string to loosen and tighten up during the performance, in which gives the ektara its particular sound. When the ektara is played only one note is sounded according to a desired tuning.

Construction: The ektara is having traditionally an "animal hide" bottom; whilst some modern or recently made ektara's have "synthetic" stretchy bottom-material. At the same time, when the instrument is played, the right hand plucks the instrument as whilst bending the two strips of bamboo or similar materials. The synthetic material is then attached usually with thumb tacks in which are inserted into the resonating chamber this is also hand-carved from bamboo. The single string which nowadays is metal is attached from underneeth where the tuning peg is located inside the bamboo top and is stretched out to the synthetic bottom.

The use of the ektara in contemporary music: In Bangra music, the Ektara is accompanied by vocals and, the dhol (a drum used in this genre). If the ektara has two strings attached from bottom to top; sometimes the ektara is referred to as "dotara", "two strings".