The Stringed Instrument Database
D
Dan Day
Alternative names: Danday, Vo de cam, Dan Dai
Origin: Vietnam
Tuning: G3, C4, F4
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Nylon or silk strings.
Scale Length: 940-950mm
Dan Nguyet
Alternative names: Nguyet cam, Dan kim, Moon lute, Moon guitar
Origin: Vietnam
Tuning: There is no fixed tuning, but the 2 strings are usually tuned a fourth or fifth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Nylon or silk strings or fishing line.
Scale Length: 720-750mm
Dan Sen
Alternative names: Moon lute, Moon guitar
Origin: Vietnam
Tuning: There is no fixed tuning, but the 2 strings are usually tuned a fourth or fifth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Nylon or silk strings or fishing line.
Scale Length: 600-650mm
Dangubica
Alternative names: Samica, Kuterevka
Origin: Balkan mountains, South-eastern Euope.
Tuning: No Standard tuning but fouths or fifths between the two courses are common. Considered a folk instrument.
Strings/Courses: 2/2, 4/2 or 4/4
Further notes: Loosely translated, the word dangubica means "to lose the day". Steel strings.
Scale Length: No standard due to being folk instruments, but 400-500mm is common.
Dan Tinh
Alternative names: Tin Tau
Origin: Northern Vietnam
Tuning: No standard.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Silk, Nylon or fishing wire strings.
Scale Length: 720-800mm
Dan Tu
Alternative names:
Origin: Vietnam, 1950's-60's.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Dan Ty Ba
Alternative names:
Origin: Vietnam. Evolved from the Chinese Pipa.
Tuning: No fixed pitch, but the strings are tuned in intervals of a fourth, a second and then a fourth.
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Silk or Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 680mm
Dihu
Alternative names: Dadihu, Dahu, Ziaodihu, Zhongdihu.
Origin: China, 1930's.
Tuning: G2, D3 or D3, A3.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: A larger version of the Erhu. Steel strings.
Scale Length:
Dilruba
Alternative names:
Origin: Northern India, 1800's.
Tuning: No absolute pitch, but the strings are tuned to set intervals depending on the ragas being played.
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: 4 playing strings and 12-15 sympathetic strings. Steel strings.
Scale Length:748-750mm
Diyingehu
Alternative names: Digehu, Beigehu, Bass Gehu.
Origin: China, 20th century, by Yang Yusen.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length:
Dombra
Alternative names: Dombura, Dombira, Dombyra, Danbura, Dumbura.
Origin: Kazakhstan
Tuning: The strings are tuned a fourth or fifth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes:
Scale Length: 730-750mm
Dombra, Kalmyk
Alternative names:
Origin: Kalmykia, south-western Russia.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Domra
Alternative names:
Origin: Russia, 1896, although based on an earlier instrument.
Tuning: E4, A4, D5 for the Prima. E3, A3, D4 for the Alto. B2, E3, A3 for the Tenor. E2, A2, D3 for the Bass. E1, A1, D2 or A1, D2, G2 for the Contrabass.
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 350-420mm for the Prima. 500-520 for the Alto. 550-580mmm for the Tenor. 780-800mm for the Bass.
Domra (Ukrainian)
Alternative names:
Origin: Developed in 1905 in Moscow, Russia. Now mainly played in the Ukraine, whereas in Russia, the 3-stringed version above is played.
Tuning: G3, D4, A4, E5.
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 350-380mm
Donskoy Ryley
Alternative names: Donsloy Ryley
Origin: Russia
Tuning:
Strings/Courses:
Further notes: Evolved from the Hurdy Gurdy.
Scale Length:
Doshpuluur
Alternative names:
Origin: Tuva, eastern Russia.
Tuning: The strings are usually tuned a fifth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2 or 3/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 610mm
Dotar
Alternative names: Dutar, Dutor, Doutar
Origin: Central Asia, from Uzbekistan to Western China. 15th century.
Tuning: A fourth or fifth between the two strings.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Nylon or silk strings.
Scale Length: Varies. There is no standard. Can be up to 2 metres.
Dotara
Alternative names: Dotora
Origin: India and Bangladesh
Tuning: G2 G3, C4, G4, G4, C5
Strings/Courses: 6/5, 5/5 or 4/4
Further notes: Most popular in Bangladesh. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 400-450mm
Double Bass
Alternative names: Upright Bass
Origin: Italy, 16th century.
Tuning: E1, A1, D2, G2
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 1050-1100mm
Dranyen
Alternative names: Dramyin, Dramnyen
Origin: Nepal and Tibet
Tuning: A3 A3, D4 D3 D3, G3 G3
Strings/Courses: 7/3
Further notes: Nylon or silk strings.
Scale Length: 650-850mm
Dulcimer (Appalachian/Mountain)
Alternative names:
Origin: USA
Tuning: A2, D3, A3. There are many other tunings using different modal scales, but this is the most common.
Strings/Courses: 3/3, 4/3, 6/3 or others.
Further notes: Not to be confused with the hammered Dulcimer. Steel strings.
Scale Length: The standard is 654mm, but varies widely.