One instrument

 

Does "Sitar" count?

 

Probably harp or one of the lute family.

 

Nylon strings and cat gut chordophones played without plectrums, so harps/lutes/classical guitars played using fingers and hands.

However this is kind of like asking what sledge hammer the nicest when you hit someone with it.

 

I love its sound, but not in this case

 

Nice I will check the lute family

 

IMO - the Charango.

Listen to anything my Gustavo Santaolalla (Deadwood, Babel, etc).

Exquisite.

I bought one from a guy in Melbourne and stumbled my way through a film soundtrack with the aid of one. A really stunning instrument.

Listen to this:

 

gently bowed violins most definitely

 

Yeah Sitar is great indeed, I love it as well, but from Indian stringed instruments Swarmandal must have the softest, most delicate sound I think. I know you said one instrument only but since I got reminded of it, I thought I should mention it as well.

 

The title says "plucked"

The tree cubano can be soft , that's what you hear in the intro.

 

Not to forget the Gu Zheng! Kinda random example:

(is it even a legit Gu Zheng...?)

 

A pleasant plucking feather?

 

Any nylon stringed instrument plucked with the bare fingers sans fingernails.

 

Yes I've been listening to some charango music, its bright and soft sound is really pleasant however as far as I know charango and ronroco is not the same (the video says "ronroco")

 

Yeah I love them but they produce too much "harmonics" (for my taste, in these moments)

 

Never heard about that instrument, I checked more videos and its high notes sounds really nice and bright, I will take it into account.

 

That gu Zheng sounds different to me or maybe it is the way she plays the instrument. I have to check more guzheng music.

Why??

 

Delicate you say?