# Help identifying this Turkish instrument

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 13, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419 "2003-04-13T11:57:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419/1 "2003-04-13T11:57:46Z")

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I went to “An evening of tranquility and love” last night. It consisted of chanting of passages from the Qur’an and playing/singing of Sufi music. There was one unfretted stringed instrument resembling a bouzouki: small, rounded body with no soundhole; long neck; four strings, with large, violin-style (or banjo-style) tuning pegs sticking out of the front of the headstock. Does anyone hear know the Turkish name for this instrument?

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**Author:** ![martin\_ibn\_martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@martin\_ibn\_martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martin_ibn_martin)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419/2 "2003-04-13T12:05:06Z")

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something like [this](http://www.apollosaxes.com/apollosaxes/baglamasaz.html) ?

Martin

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**Author:** ![martin\_ibn\_martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@martin\_ibn\_martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martin_ibn_martin)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419/3 "2003-04-13T12:08:59Z")

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Please tell me more about this affair you attended. I am also on the East Coast and tend to be into that sort of thing.

Was it sponsored by any Sufi order in particular?

Martin

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**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419/4 "2003-04-13T13:13:16Z")

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Might want to check out Lark in the Morning’s [catalog](http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/MiddleEasternStrings).

Might be listed under another catagory, however.

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-this-turkish-instrument/168419/5 "2003-04-13T13:24:37Z")

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Sounds like a saz. I know a philosopher from Turkey who plays one. It sounds very cool.