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Baglama Strings
Turkish long-necked lute. The pear-shaped bowl resonator is carved (oyma) or carvel-built (yaprakli). The soundtable is of wood, usually coniferous. The neck has a variable number of movable frets. Traditionally these were made of sheepgut or copper wire but nylon line is now used. The instrument's name, dating from the 17th century, derives from these 'tied' frets (bag: 'fret', baglamak: 'to tie, know'). The movability of the frets allows the setting of scales to include micro-tones. There are three double courses of metal strings tuned with wooden pegs. The baglama is generally played with a cherry-bark plectrum, though formerly the fingertips were widely used. The melody is commonly played on the first double course of strings, while the remaining courses are struck open as drones. Sometimes, however, the second and third courses are also fingered. The second finger of the plectrum is often used to strike the soundtable to add a percussive element to the melody. Courtesy of New Grove DMI © 1995.
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