Saz

Saz is a family of long-necked, plucked lutes native to Anatolia. In Turkish musical usage, saz is often a generic name for the instrument commonly known abroad as the baglama. The saz family includes several size variants, such as the cura (a smaller, higher instrument), the baglama itself, and the larger divan saz, all sharing a long fretted neck and a rounded hollow body.

Construction typically features a deep, bowl-shaped body made of wood (often mulberry or similar tones), a long neck with tied frets, and a wooden soundboard. Most versions carry three or four metal strings arranged in courses and are played with a plectrum called a mızrap. The exact number of strings and tuning vary by regional tradition and instrument size.

Playing and repertoire: The saz is used for melodic lines and accompaniment in Turkish folk music, frequently providing strummed or plucked texture along with vocal parts. It is capable of both melody and drone-like accompaniment, and has a prominent role in contemporary Turkish folk and pop as well as in Kurdish and other Anatolian musical contexts.

Origins and cultural role: The saz traces its development to medieval Anatolian lutes and became a central instrument in Turkish folk ensembles and Sufi-influenced music. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, regional variants and construction techniques broadened its reach and versatility within the region's musical traditions.

Name and language notes: In Turkish, saz can refer to a musical instrument in general, while baglama denotes the most common form used in urban and rural ensembles. The term is widely recognized across Turkish- and Kurdish-speaking communities and related regional cultures.