Moroccan Gimbre (STR180) HD

http://larkinthemorning.com/

The gimbre, also known as gimbri or gambre, is another of the ancient design lutes still in use in Morocco today. It has a wooden body with a skin resonator, a round long fretless neck, 4 gut or nylon strings, wooden friction pegs, and is played with a pick.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• lark
• in
• the
• morning
• moroccan
• gimbre
• str180
• hd

[fasolplanetarium]

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?

[larkinam]

@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.

[Blackboilingrobotoil]

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.

[leftysergeant]

@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.

[carnatico]

But it sounds good anyway.

[SacredHoopMagazine]

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]

That's because I was just improvising.

[carnatico]

Well that's not a Moroccan style you are playing friend.

[DBB90]

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.