All You Need To Know About Buzuq

 The name of the instrument may come from Turkish bozuk (broken or disorderly), it refers to Bozuk düzen bağlama, a tuning of Turkish baglama. Another idea for the name's origin is that it originates from the Persian phrase tanbur e bozorg, which means "big tanbur lute."

In this article, we will explore what the Buzuq is, the differences between the Arab and Kurdish Buzuq, and how the Buzuq is played.

What Is Buzuq?

The buzuq, which is usually played as a solo instrument, is not part of the regular Arab orchestra. It is associated with itinerant Gypsy musicians and can be found in both folk and urban settings throughout the Levant and Syria.

The buzuq is a long-necked fretted lute with two courses of metal strings, a double (C4) and a triple (G3), which are played with a thin piece of horn or a plastic plectrum. The metal strings produce a bright tone, and the fret distribution (24 adjustable frets) allows for a wide range of microtonal options.

The buzuq resembles the Turkish saz and has a body fashioned from a single piece of wood in its folk form. The body is made up of distinct ribs and contains mechanical, rather than wooden, pegs in its modern, urbanized form.

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What Is The Difference Between Arabic And Kurdish Buzuq?

The Arabic Buzuq is an oud-like string instrument with a smaller body and a longer, fretted neck. It resembles the Greek Bouzouki and the Turkish Saz in shape. The Buzuq is a solo folk instrument that originated in the Eastern Mediterranean (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria). However, it is included with the other traditional instruments because it became popular in mainstream pop Arabic music in the mid-twentieth century. It has since been included in several recordings and live performances as part of the Arabic ensemble.

The Kurdish buzuq, sometimes known as buzuk, bizik, or biziq, is a fretted lute with a long neck. It is assumed to be Ottoman in origin, but due to the presence of Mediterranean and Anatolian timbres, it could also be related to Greek bouzouki and Turkish saz. It has a soundbox that is comparable to that of an oud. The Kurdish buzuq's neck has 24 adjustable frets and can produce microtonal intervals. Kurdish buzuq was first employed by Kurds and Turkmens, but it is now also utilized by Arabs to accompany songs and in Arab taqsim performances. Our Kurdish buzuqs are handcrafted by masters and sold in our store. Their bowls are walnut, their faces are spruce, their necks are maple, and their fingerboards are ebony.

How To Play Buzuq?

A tiny piece of horn or a plastic plectrum was used to play the old Buzuq, which featured two courses of metal strings, a double (C4) and a triple (G3). Buzuq-s are now constructed with three strings courses to increase their range. The metal strings, together with the metallic tuning pegs (which are identical to those found on a guitar), produce a bright sound, and the fret distribution covers the most common quartertones. This, combined with the player's ability to fine-tune their pitch by moving the frets slightly, allows the buzuq to tackle the most frequent maqam scales with adequate precision.