Popular instruments of Greek music

[Ellinas]

Bouzouki

The bouzouki is the most common instrument in Greece music today.

It is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a very long neck. The bouzouki is a member of the 'long neck lute' family and is similar to a mandolin. The front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound.

There are two main types of bouzouki:

-Trichordo having three pairs of strings (courses).
-Tetrachordo having four pairs of strings.

Tetrachordo bouzouki


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Trichordo bouzouki


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The trichordo bouzouki is tuned D-a-d (or E-b-e) and the tetrachordo bouzouki is tuned C3 F3 A3 D4 (where C4 is Middle C).


The bouzouki has a long history, as it firstly appeared in Greece in the 3th century B.C. with the name pandouris or pandoura. The history of the bouzouki can be found in this thread:
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[Ellinas]

Baglamas

The baglamas is actually like a small trichordo bouzouki.

It is tuned D, A, D, but an octave higher than the bouzouki's tuning.The baglamas can be used as a melody instrument and can be easily made from wood or other material for the back (including tortoise shells, gourds, or carved solid wood).It is an easy instrument to carry and in the old days was often used as a main instrument by itself for the enjoyment and expression of the man playing it, or to "make a party" for a small group of friends. It also has been used as a chord and rhythm instrument in small "bouzouki" bands. In this role, it is often played with a simple, driving rhythm giving a high pitched, insistent beat to back up the lead bouzouki. It thus rounds out the sound of the bouzouki band. The high pitched sound of the baglama is often very prominent in Pireas style Rembetika.

There is also a Turkish stringed musical instrument called bağlama. The name has the same root, but the two instruments are different.

Baglamas with staved back


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Information for the bouzouki and ballamas is borrowed from wikipedia and Gr. Lagos webpage

[Ellinas]

Tzouras

Tzouras is also a stringed musical instrument. Its head is the same with the bouzouki but its body is smaller. The body of the Tzouras is almost double the size of the baglamas body. Tzourades are being made with the same materials bouzoukia are made, and similar technic.

The sound of the Tzouras is similar to the one of bouzouki, but it has its own special shade.

It is tuned D - A - D as it has 3 couples of strings, just like the trichordo bouzouki and the baglamas.

Tzouras


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[really]

These are sumptuous instruments, Ellinas. I have always wanted to learn about Greek musical instruments and here is my chance, so thanks very much for sharing all this. :)

My first touch with Greek music, of course, has been with bouzouki music. Although it is sometimes seen as "tourist music" by those who know quality Greek music, it is I guess the most often available music that we can find in the regular CD stores in North America. Nevertheless, I have always liked bouzouki, tourist or not.
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I call Greek music the music of the heart because it pulls at the strings of my heart. Greek music touches me as no other music can.

[Ellinas]

Originally Posted by really
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These are sumptuous instruments, Ellinas. I have always wanted to learn about Greek musical instruments and here is my chance, so thanks very much for sharing all this. :)

My first touch with Greek music, of course, has been with bouzouki music. Although it is sometimes seen as "tourist music" by those who know quality Greek music, it is I guess the most often available music that we can find in the regular CD stores in North America. Nevertheless, I have always liked bouzouki, tourist or not.
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I call Greek music the music of the heart because it pulls at the strings of my heart. Greek music touches me as no other music can.

These 3 musical instruments are being used in Laiko music (Zeimbekiko, Hasapiko etc.) Information for other instruments used in laiko and other music genres will follow.