Awesome. I just bought a well worn, three stringed gimbre from a Moroccan man who runs a tea shop in town. It’s beautiful, like holding a piece of history, and I have no idea how to play it! Would you consider posting a couple of simple beginner’s videos? I don’t even know where to start but I’m determined to learn haha.
I just received mine in the mail! It came in excellent condition, and is truly a legitimate instrument. I have one question, however-the gimbre has four peg slots and strings but three pegs. Additionally, I have recognized the tuning as being for 3 strings. Does this indicate that the fourth string is an alternative?
@fasolplanetarium Yes, the 4th string is optional, as with many ethnic instruments there are several folk 'dialects' for each instrument, some require more strings, some less.
Wow, thats incredible. I bought a Moroccan gimbri from Lark In The Morning a few years ago, and it sounds nothing like that. (The tone I mean, the skill is undoubtedly in your favor) What tuning do you use? I've been told that it should be DGA, however I have always used a sintir tuning of DaA. So, do you have any good gimbri playing wisdom to impart upon me? please?
This is my own gimbri, also from Lark. I changed the string from the braided ones to plain nylon, it is tuned like the Touma book says, GDA (your tuning is for the larger sintir), and I use a hard pick. The larger sintir is a bass, plucked with the fingers and having gut stings, whereas the gimbri is a smaller melody instrument. The names are often confused and not standard.
Hi - what sort of strings are you using - you say plain nylon - but can you be a bit more specific - maybe a classical guitar string or similar. I have one of these and also a large Atlas Mountain lotar (4 string bass lute) and stringing them is such a problem in the west. Hope you can advise. Thanks, Nick
@DBB90 I keep reading comments on YT about a Mesopotamian lute or banjo, but I have never seen any representations in Mesopotamian art or descriptions in archeological documents. So far, have seen good documentation on the lyre in Egypt, Greece, Kenya and Ethiopia and its ties to Ur. Even the adungu and the Pharonic harp are easy to trace back to Ur. Any links would be greatly appreciated.
Awesome. I just bought a well worn, three stringed gimbre from a Moroccan man who runs a tea shop in town. It’s beautiful, like holding a piece of history, and I have no idea how to play it! Would you consider posting a couple of simple beginner’s videos? I don’t even know where to start but I’m determined to learn haha.
Blackboilingrobotoil 1 year ago
Comment removed
Blackboilingrobotoil 1 year ago
I just received mine in the mail! It came in excellent condition, and is truly a legitimate instrument. I have one question, however-the gimbre has four peg slots and strings but three pegs. Additionally, I have recognized the tuning as being for 3 strings. Does this indicate that the fourth string is an alternative?
fasolplanetarium 1 year ago
@fasolplanetarium Yes, the 4th string is optional, as with many ethnic instruments there are several folk 'dialects' for each instrument, some require more strings, some less.
larkinam 1 year ago
But it sounds good anyway.
carnatico 1 year ago
Well that's not a Moroccan style you are playing friend.
carnatico 3 years ago
That's because I was just improvising.
DBB90 2 years ago
Wow, thats incredible. I bought a Moroccan gimbri from Lark In The Morning a few years ago, and it sounds nothing like that. (The tone I mean, the skill is undoubtedly in your favor) What tuning do you use? I've been told that it should be DGA, however I have always used a sintir tuning of DaA. So, do you have any good gimbri playing wisdom to impart upon me? please?
BlackHandJack 3 years ago
This is my own gimbri, also from Lark. I changed the string from the braided ones to plain nylon, it is tuned like the Touma book says, GDA (your tuning is for the larger sintir), and I use a hard pick. The larger sintir is a bass, plucked with the fingers and having gut stings, whereas the gimbri is a smaller melody instrument. The names are often confused and not standard.
DBB90 3 years ago
Hi - what sort of strings are you using - you say plain nylon - but can you be a bit more specific - maybe a classical guitar string or similar. I have one of these and also a large Atlas Mountain lotar (4 string bass lute) and stringing them is such a problem in the west. Hope you can advise. Thanks, Nick
SacredHoopMagazine 2 years ago
This is one of the oldest design string instruments around, very similar to the earliest lutes from Mesopotamia and Egypt.
DBB90 3 years ago
@DBB90 I keep reading comments on YT about a Mesopotamian lute or banjo, but I have never seen any representations in Mesopotamian art or descriptions in archeological documents. So far, have seen good documentation on the lyre in Egypt, Greece, Kenya and Ethiopia and its ties to Ur. Even the adungu and the Pharonic harp are easy to trace back to Ur. Any links would be greatly appreciated.
leftysergeant 1 year ago