The Top Turkish Folk Music Instruments
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If you’re interested in learning about the different types of music found in Turkey, then you’ll want to check out this blog post. We’ll introduce you to the top folk music instruments used in Turkey, so you can get a better sense of the country’s rich musical tradition.
The Top Turkish Folk Music Instruments
Turkish folk music is some of the most beautiful and soulful music in the world. It is a complex blend of music from the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Turkish cultures. The music is incredibly diverse, with different regions of Turkey having their own distinct styles. Instruments play a major role in Turkish folk music, and there are a wide variety of them used. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular Turkish folk music instruments.
The saz
The saz is a Turkish folk music instrument. It is a string instrument with a long neck and a bowl-shaped body. It is usually made of Walnut wood. There are three types of strings on the saz: the thickest string, which is tuned to the lowest note; the thinnest string, which is tuned to the highest note; and one or two in between. The player holds the saz horizontally and plucks the strings with their right hand while fretting with their left hand.
The sound of the saz is soft and gentle, making it well-suited for slow, mournful songs. It is commonly used in folk music from Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
The bağlama
The bağlama is a Turkic stringed instrument of the lute family, with an ol-peyek neck and a saz body. It is also sometimes called thebozuk, which means “broken,” referring to its broken strings. It is most commonly used in Turkish folk music, but has also been popularized in Western music by artists such as David Bowie and George Harrison.
The bağlama has a deep, resonant sound that is well suited for the melancholy melodies of Turkish folk music. Its strings are plucked with the fingers or a plectrum, and it can be played solo or in ensembles. The bağlama is usually tuned to one of three different scales: major, minor, or chromatic.
The bağlama is believed to have its roots in Central Asia, and it has been played in Turkey for centuries. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular in the West, due in part to the success of Turkish musicians such as Orhan Gencebay and Mercan Dede.
The kabak kemane
The kabak kemane is a type of Turkish folk music instrument. It is a string instrument that is played by plucking the strings with the fingers. The kabak kemane is usually made from the wood of a walnut tree and has a wooden body with a neck and head. The strings are made from animal gut or horsehair. The kabak kemane is believed to have originated in the Ottoman Empire, and it is still used in Turkey today.
The kudüm
The kudüm is a type of drum that is commonly used in Turkish folk music. It is usually played with two sticks, and has a distinctive sound that can be easily recognized. The kudüm is often used to provide the rhythm for a dance, or to accompany a singer.
The ney
The ney is a flute-like instrument, often made of reeds, that is used in Turkish folk music. It has a very distinctive sound, and is often used as the lead instrument in a folk ensemble. The ney has a wide range of expressive possibilities, and can be used to create both fast-paced rhythms and slow, melancholic melodies.
How to Play the Top Turkish Folk Music Instruments
Turkish folk music instruments are some of the most unusual and beautiful in the world. If you’re interested in learning to play Turkish folk music, there are a few instruments you’ll need to know. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Turkish folk music instruments and give you a brief overview of how to play each one.
The saz
The saz is a family of long-necked, fretted instruments played in many folk music traditions throughout the Balkans, the Middle East, and Central Asia. The Turkish word “saz” literally means “instrument,” and there are many different types of saz, each with its own unique characteristics.
The most common type of saz is the bağlama, which has three strings tuned to a major chord. The bağlama is often used as a solo instrument, but it can also be played in ensembles. Other types of saz include the tambura (a four-stringed instrument), the cümbüş (a five-stringed instrument), and the divan sazı (a six-stringed instrument).
The saz is usually played with a plectrum, but it can also be played with the fingers. The right hand typically plucks the strings while the left hand fretting hand dampens unwanted strings or adds embellishments such as vibrato.
Saz music often has a hypnotic quality thanks to its rhythmically repetitive nature. The drone of the background strings provides a foundation for the melody, which is typically improvised by the lead player.
The bağlama
The bağlama (pronounced “BAW-lah-mah”) is a Turkish folk music instrument with a long neck and fretboard similar to a lute or mandolin. It typically has seven strings, but can have as many as 12. The bağlama is thought to be derived from the Persian Tar, the Mongolian Kobuz, or the Turkmen Bagshy. It has been played in Turkey for centuries and is still very popular today.
The bağlama can be played solo or in a group; it is often used to accompany folk singing. It is also a popular choice for Tarzan music, which is a type of Turkish street music that combines traditional folk music with modern pop melodies.
If you’re interested in learning to play the bağlama, there are many online resources and instructional books available. You can also find classes offered at some music schools.
The kabak kemane
The kabak kemane is a type of violin that is commonly used in Turkish folk music. It has a distinctive sound that is produced by the way the strings are plucked. The kabak kemane is played with a plectrum, or pick, and can be either fretted or unfretted. The instrument is held upright, and the player uses a special technique to produce the characteristic sound.
The kabak kemane is often used in ensembles, and it is particularly popular in the southeastern region of Turkey. In this region, the instrument is known as the cümbüş. The kabak kemane has also been known by other names, including the kızılkabak and the göğüskemane.
The kudüm
The kudüm is a Persian-Turkish drum which has a unique shape – it is tall and slender with two skin heads which are played with two curved sticks. The kudüm is most commonly used in folk music, particularly in the Aegean and Central Anatolian regions, and it provides the beat for a variety of dances including the halay, zeybek and bar . It is also used in military music.
The ney
The ney is a type of flute that is traditionally made from the reed of the Arundo donax plant. It is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, with evidence of its existence dating back to ancient Egyptian times. The ney has a distinctive, haunting sound that is used in a wide variety of traditional music styles from around the globe.
The ney is commonly used in Turkish folk music, and it is also popular in Greece, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. In Turkey, the instrument is often played by itinerant musicians known as “Ashik” who travel from town to town, playing for special occasions such as weddings and funerals. The ney can be accompanied by other instruments or played solo.
The ney has six finger holes on the front side and one thumb hole on the back side. It is typically made from wood, although some modern versions are made from plastic or other synthetic materials. The length of the instrument varies depending on the type of music being played; shorter neys are used for fast-paced songs while longer neys are better suited for slower melodies.
If you’re interested in learning how to play the ney, there are a few different options available to you. You can sign up for classes at a local community center or music school, or you can find online tutorials or private lessons from experienced instructors. You can also purchase beginner’s kits that come with everything you need to get started, including an instructional DVD or book.
