Baglamas

The baglamas (Greek: μπαγλαμάς) (plural baglamades) or baglamadaki (μπαγλαμαδάκι), a long necked bowl-lute, is a plucked string instrument used in Greek music; it is a smaller version of the bouzouki pitched an octave higher (nominally D-A-D), with unison pairs on the four highest strings and an octave pair on the lower D. Musically, the baglamas is most often found supporting the bouzouki in the Piraeus city style of rebetiko.

For the instrument used in Turkish music, see Bağlama.

Baglamas

Greek baglama in opened case
String instrument
Other names	Baglamadaki
Classification	Necked bowl lutes String instruments
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.321-6 (Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum)
Related instruments
Barbat (lute), Baglamadaki, Bağlama, Biwa, Bouzouki, Dombra, Domra, Dutar, Lavta, Lute, Mandocello, Mandola, Mandolin, Mandole, Oud, Pipa, Qanbus

Baglamas tuning

The body is often hollowed out from a piece of wood (skaftos, construction) or else made from a gourd, but there are also baglamades with staved backs.[1] Its small size made it particularly popular with musicians who needed an instrument transportable enough to carry around easily or small enough to shelter under a coat. During parts of the 20th century, players of the bouzouki and baglamas were persecuted by the government, and the instruments were smashed by the police.

The name comes from Turkish bağlama, a similar instrument.[2]

See also

• Bouzouki
• Pandura
• Tambouras
• Cretan lyra
• Tzouras

References

1. "Baglamas skaftos: Made in Greece". Νίκος Ξιλούρις: δισκοπωλείο / Nikos Xilouris: official site & online store (in English and Greek). Athens. Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
2. The Stringed Instrument Database