Ancient Sound of Anatolia: the Baglama

Tunings and playing styles of the baglama

Baglamas are tuned differently in every part of Turkey, and the structure of the folk song to be played and the strokes of the plectrum affect the tuning system.

The baglama can be played either with or without a plectrum, in the latter case by striking the strings with the fingers in the method known as selpe. Selpe has several regional variations. For example among the Turkmen communities of the Aegean, musicians bang the body of the baglama, while among the Alevis they strike with less force.