SoundsField recordingsFrequenciesDecibelsInstrumentsGlossaryToolsLearn
  1. Home
  2. Instruments
  3. Lutes
  4. Basolia: How It Makes Sound & History
Lutes

Basolia

The basolia is a member of the lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-71). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the basolia makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the basolia belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.

More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.

Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.

From Wikipedia

The basolia (Ukrainian: басоля; Polish: basy or basetla) is a Ukrainian and Polish folk instrument of the bowed string family similar to the cello, although usually slightly larger and not as sophisticated in construction. The basolia was usually homemade and of very rough construction. Sometimes the soundboard was sewn to the body rather than glued. The strings are tuned in fifths.

Three different types are found in Ukraine:

Other lutes

Frequently asked questions

What does a basolia sound like?

As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.

What type of instrument is the basolia?

It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-71).

Sources & credits