How the torban makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the torban 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 torban (Ukrainian: Торбан, also teorban or Ukrainian theorbo) is a Ukrainian musical instrument that combines the features of the Baroque lute with those of the psaltery. The Torban differs from the more common European bass lute known as the theorbo in that it had additional short unfretted treble strings (known as prystrunky) strung along the treble side of the soundboard.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a torban 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 torban?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-5).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q2651987 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Torban – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by lute88 – CC BY-SA 3.0