Keyword: Rababa

Rababa

The rababa, or rabab, is a traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument that is played by either being bowed or plucked. It is one of the oldest known stringed instruments and first appeared in the Middle East in the 8th century CE. It remains popular in many styles of Arab music.

The rababa usually consist of 1 or 2 strings stretched across the length of a long, fretless neck that is attached to a small round or box-shaped body covered with parchment or animal skin. It has a relatively limited musical range (about 1 octave) and produces rich, eerie tones.

Bowed rababa generally have a spike attached to the bottom, used to keep the instrument stable when rested on the ground. They are related to the modern violin, and are often referred to as spike ‘fiddles.’