I’m very excited to introduce you to my new Turkish Instruments. Coming straight from İstanbul, this is the real thing. Images are below so you can check it out! The first image is an instrument called an Oud. Her name is Ayşe, and she has a hauntingly beautiful sound. With no frets and 11 strings, it is quite challenging to play. Next up is the Ney Flute. It is extremely difficult to play, but with the right techniques it has a gorgeous ancient sound. Her name is Nefes, which means Breath. The next instrument is called a Bağlama. This one is particularly unique, with its half-tone frets and metallic sound. They play this instrument with very fast picking and movement. My bağlama’s name is Maja, meaning wonderful and beautiful. The last instrument on this post is called Kemençe. This one is unique to the black sea region, and has been around for hundreds of years. It is similar to a violin, but you can play it hanging straight down from your hand, either standing or sitting down. It feels very backward and awkward, but if played correctly has a haunting, scratchy, ancient sound. I will be posting some videos of myself playing these instruments soon, so stay tuned for that!