Bouzouki
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The Bouzouki is a long-necked lute which comes from Greece ; similar instruments are also played in Turkey and the Middle East. To produce its characteristic ringing sound you pluck the metal strings with a plectrum. A popular effect in bouzouki music is tremolo : the rapid playing of a note over and over again to prolong the sound.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| Three-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| Wooden body with metal strings. |
| Size |
| About 3 ft 3 in (1 m) long. |
| Origins |
| The Turkish saz and the Italian mandolin co-existed in 19th-century Greece : the bouzouki was created by combining features of both instruments. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| In the early 20th century, the bouzouki often accompanied popular songs in low-life taverns ; this led to its association with criminals, and the persecution of some instrumentalists. |
