Kamancha

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A Kamancha (Also known as a Qyamancha, Kemanche or Kemenche) is a 4 stringed spiked fiddle. It is played on the knee with a horse-hair bow which is tightened with the hand while playing. The body of the Kamancha is in the shape of a parabola.

This instrument is widely played in classical Mugham music of Iran and Azerbaijan, with slight variations in the structure of the instrument.

[edit] Variations & Confusions

The Karadeniz Kemencesi is from Turkey, although it is a bowed instrument with a similar name, it differs greatly in structure and sound with the Kamancha.

Armenians from the Black Sea in the Trebizond region of Historical Armenia played another type of Kemenche. The shape of this Kemenche is similar to the violin. It has only 3 strings and no frets.

[edit] See also

Iranian Musical Instruments
*String Instruments (Sāzhāy-e Zehī)*
Bowed instruments:	Ghazhak \| Kamāncheh \| Robāb
Plucked instruments:	Barbat \| Chang \| Dotār \| Qānūn \| Robāb \| Sallāneh \| Sāz \| Setār \| Tanbūr \| Tār \| Ūd
Struck instruments:	Santur
*Woodwind instruments (Sāzhāy-e Bādī):*
Exposed:	Darāy \| Sornā \| Karnay
End-blown:	Haft Band \| Nāy (Ney) \| Sheypur
Percussion instrument (Sāzhāy-e Kūbeheyī/Zarbī)
Auxiliary Percussion:	Daf \| Dohol \| Dāvūl \| Dāyereh Zangī \| Naqāreh \| Tonbak (Dombak) \| Kūs \| Sanj