The cümbüş (pronounced [dʒymˈbyʃ]; sometimes approximated as /dʒuːmbuːʃ/ by English speakers) is a Turkish stringed instrument of relatively modern origin. Developed in the early 20th century by Zeynel Abidin Cümbüş as an oud-like instrument that could be heard as part of a larger ensemble. In construction it resembles both the American banjo and the Middle Eastern oud. A fretless instrument, it has six courses of doubled-strings, and is generall...
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The cümbüş (pronounced [dʒymˈbyʃ]; sometimes approximated as /dʒuːmbuːʃ/ by English speakers) is a Turkish stringed instrument of relatively modern origin. Developed in the early 20th century by Zeynel Abidin Cümbüş as an oud-like instrument that could be heard as part of a larger ensemble. In construction it resembles both the American banjo and the Middle Eastern oud. A fretless instrument, it has six courses of doubled-strings, and is generally tuned like an oud. In shape, though, it closely resembles the banjo with a metal resonator bowl and skin body head. It has a loud, metallic, resonant tone and is widely heard in Middle Eastern popular music.
The Cümbüş Company in Istanbul, Turkey manufactures several different models. They include:
The word cümbüş is derived from the Turkish for "fun", as the instrument was marketed as a popular alternative to the more costly classical oud. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk decreed that families take surnames, Zeynel Abidin adopted the name of his...
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