How the hasapi makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the hasapi 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
Hasapi (Toba Batak: ᯂᯘᯇᯪ), also written as kacapi (Pakpak: ᯂᯘᯇᯪ), hapitan (Toba Batak: ᯂᯇᯪᯖᯉ᯲), and kulcapi (Karo: ᯂᯬᯞ᯳ᯠᯇᯫ), is a two-stringed lute played by the Batak people of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The plucked instrument was used for Zere religious rituals and is now used as part of the orchestra accompanying the traveling theater Opera Batak.
Other lutes
More instruments from Indonesia
Frequently asked questions
What does a hasapi 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 hasapi?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.322).
Where does the hasapi come from?
The hasapi originates from Indonesia.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1588132 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Hasapi – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Tropenmuseum – CC BY-SA 3.0