How the gadulka makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the gadulka 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.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
The gadulka (Bulgarian: гъдулка) is a traditional Bulgarian bowed string instrument. Alternate spellings are "gǎdulka", "gudulka" and "g'dulka". Its name comes from a root meaning "to make noise, hum or buzz". The gadulka is an integral part of Bulgarian traditional instrumental ensembles, commonly played in the context of dance music.
The gadulka commonly has three (occasionally four or five Mincho Minchev) main strings with up to sixteen sympathetic resonating strings underneath introduced by the legendary Mincho Nedyalkov. Only the main melodic strings are touched by the player's fingers and the strings are never pressed all the way down to touch the neck. The gadulka is held vertically, with the bow held perpendicular in an under-hand hold.
Other lutes
More instruments from Bulgaria
Frequently asked questions
What does a gadulka 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 gadulka?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-71).
Where does the gadulka come from?
The gadulka originates from Bulgaria.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1078965 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Gadulka – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by No machine-readable author provided. Arent assumed (based on copyright claims). – CC BY-SA 3.0