Benju: Iran musical instrument
The benju is a kind of zither that is fitted with a keyboard. The musical instrument is commonly used in the music of Balcochistan and Sin...
https://worldhitz4u.blogspot.com/2013/12/benju-iran-musical-instrument.html
The benju is a kind of zither that is
fitted with a keyboard. The musical instrument is commonly used in the music of
Balcochistan and Sindh. The musical instrument is said to be based on the
Japanese taishogoto that came into the southern Asia in the early moments of
the 20th century.
source of picture: meloteca.com
The benju is about 1 meter long, 10
to 12 cm wide and the sound box of the instrument is about 5 cm high, having 6
strings. Strings 1 and 2, strings 5 and 6 are used as the drone strings and are
tuned to the tonic and 5th or 4th. In relative pitch C
and G or F. the middle strings of the instrument are tuned unison to F or G and
they are fretted and can be shortened by pressing down the metal keys of the
musical instrument. The scale of the musical instrument is chromatic from G to
A, B flat or B. the right hand of the player plays the strings of the
instrument with the use of a wooden or plastic plectrum, while the left fingers
of the player’s hand is fingering the keys of the instrument.
The musical instrument is played mainly as a
solo musical instrument accompanied by a dholak or tamburag or sometimes
combined with the sarud.
