The çifteli, çiftetelli, çifttelli saz (Turkish: 'doubled', 'double stringed saz', , qifteli ) is a plucked string instrument, with only two strings. It is played by Albanians in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia.
The çifteli is a common folk instrument played in weddings and at concerts similar to the related instruments like bağlama or cura. It is mainly used in folk music (in particular Albanian folk music) as well as in various musical styles such as the performances of Nikollë Nikprelaj. It is also used to accompany Albanian epics and ballads.
Construction Çifteli vary in size, but are most often tuned to B3 and E4 (comparable to the top two strings of a guitar, which is classically tuned as "E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4"). Usually the lower string is played as a drone, with the melody played on the higher string. The çifteli is a fretted instrument, but unlike most, it is not fretted in a chromatic scale (one fret per semitone), but rather in a diatonic scale, with seven notes to the octave.
The çifteli is a microtonal instrument, with makam Hüseyni being used on some çiftelis.
Etymology The term çifteli and çiftetelli are derived from Turkish çift ('double') Tureng çift meaning in Turkish and tel ('wire', 'string'), Tureng tel English-Turkish Dictionary with the Turkish suffix -li ('with'),. The suffix -li so çiftetelli means 'with doubled strings', it takes the name from the number of strings used. Tureng çiftetelli Turkish-English Dictionary Tureng çift English-Turkish Dictionary Tureng 'tel' English-Turkish Dictionary. The suffix -li
History Being a Albanian folk instrument the çifteli originates from Balkan Peninsula particularly from Albanian speaking territories. The instrument delivers a unique melody, sound and also acts as accompany instrument to singing. The çifteli is closely related and similar to other common stringed instruments like the bağlama, cura, balkan tambura in many aspects but has its unique sound and character. It is also can be regarded as unique instrument rather than a modification or a derivative of common stringed instruments.
See also Tzouras Dutar, a Central Asian instrument, whose name means "two strings" in Persian Baglama Šargija, a baglama-like Balkan instrument Tanbur Setar
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