Description: The rebab [and by its alternate names “rebob, “rabob”] is a plucked lute that is a member of the chordophone family. It is found in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kashmir, and North Western India. During ancient times the rebab was played in Afghani court music. In Afghanistan the rebab is regarded as the “lion of musical instruments”. Today the rebab is designated as one of the national instruments along with the zerbagali (goblet drum). The wide ranging distribution of the rebab maybe explained by the Afghan rule of India during the 18th century. From Afghanistan the Rebab migrated to Central Asia mainly Tajikistan and neighbouring Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan the rebab has a slightly longer neck and fixed frets are added, this is a result influenced from the Soviet Era. In Tajikistan a rebab of a somewhat similar construction is played, this type of rebab is slightly different in its appearance. The rebab is played in Afghani classical, art music, ghazal (a form of poetry) and in popular or film music. There are numerous tunings are used depending on the raga.

Afghani Rebab Tunings

	C#-F#-B

Anatomy of the Rebab: The body, neck and friction tuning pegs are hand carved from mulberry wood. The afghani rebab has four adjustable nylon frets tied around the neck. For the six playing strings nylon is the most common material used. In Kashmir the playing strings for the rebab are often made with gut from sheep or goat. There are 11, 12 or occasionally 13 chiakari strings that are of a thin diameter of steel. As an alternative I often use Indian sitar strings to supplement for the chikari strings. The bridge of the Afghani rebab is quite intricate in its design and it is adjustable. From the top view of the bridge one can see that the playing strings go over the bridge and the chikari strings go through holes drilled just underneath the top of the bridge. At the back of the rebab there are two bone hooks that support both the playing and chikari strings. All of the strings travel from the back of the rebab to the head stock where the tuning pegs are located. The acoustic chamber is constructed from a hide of goat or sheep skin stretched over the body. Some of the contemporary materials used in the making of the rebab do include the sheet metal from oil drums and other sources.