How the çifteli makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the çifteli 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.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The çifteli, çiftetelli, çifttelli saz (Turkish: 'doubled', 'double stringed saz', Albanian: çiftelia, qifteli ) is a plucked string instrument, with only two strings. It is played by Albanians in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia.
The çifteli is a common folk instrument played in weddings and at concerts similar to the related instruments like bağlama or cura. It is mainly used in folk music (in particular Albanian folk music) as well as in various musical styles such as the performances of Nikollë Nikprelaj. It is also used to accompany Albanian epics and ballads.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a çifteli 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 çifteli?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-5).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q272827 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Çifteli – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by A.jobs02 – CC BY-SA 4.0