Instruments
Saz, Bağlama
photo:Arent - Wikimpedia Commons
Cura and bağlama
Classification: Chordophone - Stringed instrument
Description:
The term "saz" actually refers to a family of plucked long-necked lutes. The bağlama is the most common of these, and is often called by the generic name. The terms "bağlama" and "saz" are used somewhat interchangeably in Turkey. It can be played with a plectrum or with a fingerpicking style known as şelpe.
The most commonly used stringed folk instrument in Turkey, the bağlama has seven strings divided into courses of two, two and three. It can be tuned in various ways and takes different names according to region and size: bağlama, divan sazı, bozuk, çöğür, kopuz irızva, cura, tambura, etc. The cura is the smallest member of the bağlama family: larger than the cura is the tambura, tuned an octave lower. The divan sazı, the largest instrument in the family, is tuned one octave lower still.
Videos - a few examples:
Acem Kızı - Bengi Bağlama Üçlüsü
- Video 1
- Video 2
- Video 3
- Video 4