"The rabab is one of the ancient and old types of instruments in Iran, with a long history, and is used in many gatherings. The rabab has many famous and ancient players. To learn more about this ancient and melodic instrument, stay with Saad News in this article."
The rabab is one of the oldest plucked string instruments in Iran, and its playing is mainly common in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country. The rabab is typically made from wood, skin, gut, or nylon strings.
Playing various types of the rabab is common in some regions of Iran and neighboring countries. This instrument was used in the 1930s and 1940s in ensemble performances of traditional Iranian instruments. In urban ensembles, the rabab is placed horizontally on the knee (similar to the oud or tar) and played with a plectrum. The modern rabab used in ensemble performances today is mostly made of walnut or mulberry wood, or other hard woods.
The rabab is made of four main parts: the body, the belly, the neck, and the head, and it typically has 6 or 3 pairs of strings.
The rabab, a name derived from Arabic, is one of the ancient and old Iranian instruments, originally from the regions of ancient Aryana, Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Afghanistan. The instrument, called rabab, has a history of more than a thousand years, and its Persian name is "Ravad." This instrument is also commonly used in Khuzestan, and the Arabs in Khuzestan refer to it as "Rababah." The rabab exists in two types: national and local. The national type is used in the classical music systems of Iran, while the local type is played for folk and traditional music. The Arabs have supported this instrument so much that it became one of their national instruments. Arabs use the term "rabab" for several types of string instruments, but one type with a flat surface and similar to the Iranian kamancheh is referred to as the Arab rabab.
The rabab is the oldest plucked string instrument in Iran and is mostly played in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country. It is usually made from wood, skin, gut, or nylon. The rabab used today in ensemble performances is mostly crafted from walnut or mulberry wood.
Famous and skilled players of this instrument in Afghanistan include Rahim Khoshnawaz, and in Iran, prominent players include Bijan Kamkar and Saeed Ashtari. One of the well-known makers of this instrument is Master Hossein Ghalami. The rabab is also played in some neighboring countries of Iran. In the 1930s and 1940s, it was used in ensemble performances of Iranian national instruments, played horizontally on the knee with a plectrum.
The rabab is considered one of the oldest string instruments in Iran, and the name of this instrument can be found in ancient texts like the poetry of Hafez, Molana, Nasir Khusraw, Nizami, etc., indicating its thousand-year history. Naturally, the rabab looked different in the past, and over time, through changes made by musicians, it transformed into the rabab instrument that is popular today in Iran and Afghanistan.
According to historical evidence and oral traditions, the creation of a new type of the rabab dates back to the 16th century, attributed to a man named "Netan Khan" who lived in present-day Afghanistan.
The modern rabab used in ensemble performances is mostly made from walnut or mulberry wood, and its main parts include the bowl, belly, neck, and head. All parts of the rabab are typically made from a single piece of wood.
The structure and use of the instrument have changed over time. The rabab can be played vertically with a bow (like the kamancheh) or horizontally, using a plectrum, like the oud or tar. In most ensemble performances, it is placed horizontally on the knee and played with a plectrum, known as "nakhnik" or "Shahbaz."
This instrument is especially popular in the eastern and southeastern regions of Iran. The increasing use of the rabab in Iranian music is due to its deep, resonant sound and the lack of bass tones in other Iranian instruments. A renowned maker of this instrument is Master Hossein Ghalami.
Both in appearance and structure, the rabab has maintained its traditional and original form, unlike some other Iranian instruments like the tar and oud, which have been modernized. The rabab comes in three sizes: "Shah Rabab," "Middle Rabab," and "Zilche." Additionally, it can be made in various forms.
The sound of the rabab is produced in the body of the instrument, which consists of two main parts: the bowl and the belly. Other components of the rabab include the neck, the frets (dastan), the head, the bridge, the skin, the sound post, the string holders, the tuning pegs, and the strings, which are struck by the player to produce sound.
The rabab, like the tar, has six strings. In the past, the strings were made from animal gut, but today, nylon is often used. The main components of the rabab are:
Resonator (Body): The body of the rabab is made up of the bowl and belly. The bowl is hollow and larger, and the skin is placed over the opening. The body has two indentations on either side of the bowl to allow for better resonance.
Belly: The belly is hollow and almost triangular, about the same length as the bowl. It is covered by a thin wooden plate.
Neck: The neck of the rabab is short and continues from the belly. It is tapered and leads to the head, where the tuning pegs are located.
Head: The head is a small hollow box at the top of the neck, where the strings are anchored. The head is slightly tilted back, and six tuning pegs (three on each side) are mounted on it.
The rabab is an ancient plucked string instrument, played with a plectrum known as "nakhnik" or "Shahbaz." It is one of the oldest string instruments in Iran, with its origins in ancient Aryana, Khorasan, Sistan, Baluchestan, and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, this instrument has been forgotten in Iran but remains a popular and beloved instrument in Afghan music.
