The Stringed Instrument Database
J
Jakhay
Alternative names: Jakhe, Chakhe, Jakae, Jakay, Takhe, Charakhe
Origin: Thailand
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: 2 Silk or nylon strings, 1 brass.
Scale Length: 700mm
Jarana Huasteca
Alternative names: Jaranita
Origin: Mexico
Tuning: G3, B3, D4, F#4, A4
Strings/Courses: 5/5
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: Around 400mm
Jarana Jarocha
Alternative names: Jarana de son Jarocha, Jarana Veracruzana. Often just called Jarana, as it is the most common variety.
Origin: Mexico
Tuning: G3, C4 C4, E4 E3, A3 A3, G3 (most common) or A3, D4 D4, G3 G4, B3 B3, E4 or D4, G4 G3, B3 B3, E4 E4, C4
Strings/Courses: Usually 8/5, but sometimes 10/5 (all courses doubled) or 6/5 (just the middle course doubled).
Further notes: Nylon strings. Comes in different sizes. From smallest to largest: chaquiste/chakiste, mosquito/moskito, primera, segunda and tercera.
Scale Length: Less than 290-320mm for the chaquiste/chakiste, 320-340mm for the mosquito/moskito, 380-400mm for the primera, around 500mm for the segunda and 580mm for the tercera.
Jarana Jarocha Requinto
Alternative names: Jarocha Requinto, Requinto Jarocha, Guitarra De Son.
Origin: Mexico
Tuning: G2, A2, D2, G3 or C2, D2, G2, C3 or C2, D2, G3, C3 or A2, D3, G3, C3 for 4 stringed versions. E2, A2, D3, G3, C3 for 5 stringed versions.
Strings/Courses: 4/4 or 5/5
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 550mm
Jarana Leona
Alternative names:
Origin: Mexico
Tuning: G2, A2, D3, G3.
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 680mm
Jouhikko
Alternative names: Jouhikannel, Jouhikantele
Origin: Finland, 14th century, but died out in the 20th century and has only recently been revived.
Tuning: D, A, E
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Strings are made of horse hair.
Scale Length: Made by individual luthiers, therefore no standard.
Junga
Alternative names: Jungga
Origin: South-east Indonesia.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes:
Scale Length: Around 350mm, but not standard.
K
Kabosy
Alternative names: Kabosi, Mandoliny, Mandoly
Origin: Madagascar
Tuning: No standard tuning, but a commong one is G2, G3, B3 B3, D4 D4
Strings/Courses: 6/6, 6/4 or 4/4.
Further notes: Often not all the frets go across the whole fretboard. The Kabosy is usually box shaped but other shapes exist. The strings are made from nylon fishing line or bicycle brake wire.
Scale Length: There is no accepted standard due to the wide variety of sizes, and the fact they are locally made by individual luthiers.
Kamancheh
Alternative names: Kamanche, Kamancha, Kamanjah.
Origin: Iran.
Tuning: No fixed pitch, but usually the second string is tuned a fourth above the first, and the third a fifth above the second (and an octave above the first).
Strings/Courses: 4/4 or 3/3
Further notes: It is now (as well as Iran) played in Turkey, Egypt, Azerbaijan and elsewhere. There are many different varieties as a result.
Scale Length: 320-400mm
Kamayacha
Alternative names: Kamaicha
Origin: Rajasthan, India.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses:
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Kelutviaq
Alternative names: Qelutviaq
Origin: Played by the Yupik eskimo people in Alaska, USA.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: Usually 1/1, but can also be 2/1 or 2/2
Further notes: Both plucked and bowed.
Scale Length:
Kemenche
Alternative names: Kemence, Black Sea Lyra, Pontic Lyra, Qamani.
Origin:
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 4/4 or 3/3
Further notes: It is now (as well as Iran) played in Turkey, Egypt, Azerbaijan and elsewhere. There are many different varieties as a result.
Scale Length: 320-400mm
Keroncong
- See Cak and Cuk
Khonkhota
Alternative names: Qonqhota, Qonqhota, Jitarron, Ponputu, Mokholos, Machus.
Origin: Potosi, Southern Bolivia.
Tuning: G4 G3, C4, D4 D3, A3, D4 D4.
Strings/Courses: Usually 8/5 but sometimes 7/5, 9/5, 10/5 or 11/5.
Further notes: The strings are either all steel, or a mix of steel and nylon.
Scale Length: Usually between 580-680mm, although quite a wide variation. 650mm is common.
Khushtar
Alternative names:
Origin: Uyghur Region, Western China.
Tuning: G, D, A, E
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Kibangala
Alternative names: Gaboussi, Gabusi, Quanbus, Gabbus.
Origin: Originally from Eastern Africa or the Middle East. Now played throughout Africa and in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Tuning: D2, G3, B3 B3, D3 D3
Strings/Courses: 6/4 or 7/4
Further notes:
Scale Length: 480-600mm.
Kirki
- See Charango
Koboz or Kobza (Romanian/Hungarian)
- See Cobza
Kobza
Alternative names:
Origin: Ukraine.
Tuning: G3, D4, A4, E5 for 4 stringed versions (the same as a mandolin). E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4 for 6 stringed versions (the same as a guitar). E3 E2, A3 A2, D4 D3, G4 G3, B3 B3, E4 E4 for 12 stringed versions (the same as a 12-string guitar).
Strings/Courses: Usually 4/4, but sometimes 6/6 or 12/6
Further notes: Steel strings. Not to be confused with the Cobza or Koboz from Hungary and Romania.
Scale Length:
Kokyu
Alternative names: Kucho, Hana
Origin: Japan.
Tuning: D, G, C.
Strings/Courses: 4/4 or 3/3
Further notes: Built like the Shamisen, but smaller and with a spike at the bottom. Unlike the Shamisen, it is played with a bow. Silk strings.
Scale Length:
Komuz
Alternative names: Qomuz, Gopuz, Kopuz, Kopus, Gomuz
Origin: Kyrgyzstan. Believed to date back to the 4th century.
Tuning: A, E, A
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Nylon strings or fishing wire.
Scale Length:
Komuz, Agach
Alternative names:
Origin: Dagestan, Russia. The Caucasus mountains.
Tuning: A, E, A
Strings/Courses: 4/4 or 3/3
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Kon
Alternative names: Konde, Kono
Origin: Southern Sudan.
Tuning: No absolute pitch, but the two strings are tuned a minor third apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length:
Kontra
- See Bugarija
Kozobas
Alternative names:
Origin: Western Ukraine, 20th century.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: Usually 2/2 but sometimes 3/3.
Further notes:
Scale Length:
K'Ni
Alternative names: Koni, Khoni
Origin: Northern Vietnam.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Instead of a soundbox, the instrument has a bamboo disc attached. This is held in the player's mouth, so their mouth is the soundbox.
Scale Length:
Kudyapi
Alternative names: Kudlung, Kusyapi
Origin: Philippines.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes:
Scale Length: 500-850mm
Kwitra
Alternative names: Kouitra, Quitra, Quwaytara.
Origin: Algeria.
Tuning: G3 G3, E4 E4, A3 A3, D4 D4.
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Nylon or gut strings.
Scale Length: 640mm
Kyl Kiak
Alternative names:
Origin: Kyrgyzstan
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Strings made of horse hair.
Scale Length: 500-600mm