His ‘gayaki anga’ (vocalist style) was a significant departure from the ‘tantkar anga’ (the style that describes plucked instruments). The crucial difference between vocal music and a plucked instrument is that vocal music is able to establish continuity, while the frets of an instrument create a staccato effect. Vilayat Khan could effectively play with what is known as ‘meend’, the indiscernible continuum of notes between two notes, which only a singer can achieve. He had both the craft and the knowledge to fill the space in between.
