Common Mistakes When Buying Traditional Musical Instruments Online

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Reading Time: 7 minutesBuying a traditional musical instrument online can be straightforward if you verify the instrument type, maker, materials, specifications, intended use, package contents, shipping information and return policy before paying. The most common mistake is making the decision from one factor—usually price or appearance—instead of evaluating the complete listing. TL;DR Before buying a traditional musical instrument […]

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What Is the Qanun Mandal System? A Guide to the Instrument’s Microtonal Levers

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Reading Time: 5 minutesTL;DR: The mandal is a small adjustable lever on the qanun that raises the pitch of a string course slightly, letting players reach the microtones required by Middle Eastern, Turkish, and Persian maqams. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “mandal” is the Turkish term for these levers, while the Arabic equivalent is orab. A […]

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Duduk Instrument Origin: The Ancient Armenian Roots of a Timeless Sound

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Reading Time: 5 minutesTL;DR: The duduk is a double-reed woodwind instrument that originates from Armenia, where it is known as tsiranapogh (“apricot-made wind instrument”). Made from aged apricot wood, it dates back to at least the 5th century AD — with some Armenian scholars arguing for a much older history. UNESCO proclaimed the duduk and its music a […]

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The Best Oud Players You Should Know

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Reading Time: 3 minutesThe best oud players fall into two broad groups: classical, historic figures like Munir Bashir and Farid Al-Atrash, who established the Iraqi and Egyptian schools, and contemporary artists like Naseer Shamma and Anouar Brahem, who blend tradition with newer styles. Best Oud Players — Then and Now The oud is one of the oldest instruments […]

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Dotar vs Setar: What’s the Real Difference?

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Reading Time: 3 minutesThe dotar and setar are both traditional plucked string instruments, but they are not the same instrument. The dotar has two strings and is mainly used in Central Asian and Khorasani/Turkmen Persian folk music, played with the fingers. The setar has four strings (despite its name meaning “three”), is central to Persian classical art music, […]

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