How the qanbūs makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the qanbūs 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
A qanbūs (Arabic: قنبوس) is a short-necked lute that originated in Yemen and spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Sachs considered that it derived its name from the Turkic komuz, but it is more comparable to the oud. The instrument was related to or a descendant of the barbat, a (possibly) skin-topped lute from Central Asia. The qanbūs has 6 or 7 nylon strings that are plucked with a plectrum to generate sound. Unlike many other lute-family instruments, the gambus has no frets. Its popularity declined in Yemen during the early 20th century reign of Imam Yahya; by the beginning of the 21st century, the oud had replaced the qanbūs as the instrument of choice for Middle-Eastern lutenists.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a qanbūs 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 qanbūs?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-6).
Where does the qanbūs come from?
The qanbūs originates from Yemen.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q120031 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Qanbūs – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Zenit – CC BY-SA 3.0