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Instruments I offer this list as a resource for beginners who are looking for practical information about these instruments, and how to play them. Perhaps, by browsing the list, you'll take the first steps to learning a new instrument. INDEX: ACCORDION: BAGLAMA: BAGLAMA SAZ: BALALAIKA: BANDURRIA: BANJO (5 STRING): BANJO (TENOR): BODHRAN: BOUZOUKI: BOWED PSALTERY: CASTANETS: CHARANGO: CONCERTINA: CUATRO (VENEZUELAN): DIDJERIDU: DULCIMER: DUMBEK: ERHU: FIDDLE: FLUTE (WOODEN): GUITAR: KANJIRA: MANDOLIN: OUD: PIPA: QUENA: ROORIA: RUAN: SHAMISEN: SITAR: TABOR PIPE: UKULELE: WHISTLE

Accordion Accordion FAQ A variety of information about accordions, including how they're built and how to repair them. Learning to Play Accordion All you need to begin your first tune on the accordion (which, incidentally, will be "Lady of Spain"). Baglama Saz Baglama Although this site is in Turkish, you'll find tuning diagrams and music here for playing the baglama saz. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) This is not the same instrument as the Greek baglama. Balalaika Composition of the Russian folkorchestra Information about the balalaika and its close older relative, the domra. I was most impressed with the picture of the subcontrabass balalaika, and with the fact that the balalaika is a much younger instrument than I had realised. The Song of the Balalaika A site in German and English, which includes a complete set of online balalaka lessons with music and sound files. Bandurria La Bandurria A brief introduction to the history and construction of this Spanish instrument. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive. The page can be translated from Spanish using the AltaVista Babelfish.) Banjo (5 string) Easy Five-String Banjo for Beginners A great place to begin your exploration of the 5 string banjo. The emphasis is on bluegrass music. Uncle Ben's Homepage This page offers lessons in both bluegrass and frailing banjo. Bluegrass Banjo Lessons for the beginner. Clawhammer Banjo How to play the "no-picks" mountain style. Banjo (Tenor) The Banjo: a short history by Mick Moloney I like to use a tenor banjo primarily for playing Celtic music. This page explains something of the history of the instrument, and how it came to be used in Irish traditional music. Proteus' Celtic Banjo Site A comprehensive site, offering techniques, chords, sound recordings and many other resources. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Irish Banjo A resource site for the Irish banjo - from Norway! Bodhran The Bodhran This much maligned instrument can be an integral and exciting component of Celtic music. This page contains links to information on playing, buying, recording and constructing the bodhran, among many other topics. Bouzouki Sam's Bouzouki Website This site is dedicated to the Greek bouzouki. Here you can find tabs for tunes, articles on some of the great players, MIDI files and links to makers of Greek bouzoukis. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Bouzouki Resource Portal Pretty much what it says: a portal to material concerning the Greek bouzouki, including online lessons. Bouzouki Chord Chart A pdf file of chords for the 3-course Greek Bouzouki, that is tuned D-A-d. Baglama A page of information on the bouzouki's little cousin. This is not the same instrument as the Turkish baglama saz. Han's Irish Bouzouki Page Perhaps the best starting place on the Internet for those interested in playing Celtic music on the bouzouki. Although the first players of "Celtic bouzouki" used Greek instruments, a variety of newer, flat-backed designs are now used. These include citterns and mandolas. Bowed Psaltery The Bowed Psaltery A history of this frequently misrepresented instrument. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Castanets How To Play Castanets Castanets are an important part of Flamenco music, and concerti have been written for them. This page should be enough for a beginner. Charango Charango This Argentine page can be translated from Spanish using the AltaVista Babelfish. It offers descriptions of the instrument and some recordings. Charango Chords (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Charango Tuning Concertina Concertina FAQ A starting place for information on all types of concertinas, with links to makers and repairers, history and resources for learning to play the instrument. DoN Nichols' Home page Don is a concertina specialist whose website offers information and diagrams showing how various types of concertinas are constructed. If you have an old concertina, you may be able to find out when it was made, using this site. Cuatro (Venezuelan) El Cuatro Offering an introduction to the cuatro in both Spanish and English, this page provides chord charts and information on strumming techniques. Surprisingly, it's Swiss. Didjeridu iDIDJ "iDIDJ Australia seeks to offer a central point for stakeholders and interested parties in coordinating efforts aimed at preserving the cultural integrity of one of Australia's most unique offerings to the world, the didgeridoo... " Dreamtime Here's a good place to learn about the history of the instrument, how to play it, and places where you might buy one. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Dulcimer Folk Notes Mountain Dulcimer Chord Page Chords and tunings for the Appalachian or mountain dulcimer. Folk Notes Mountain Dulcimer Tab Page Tableture for tunes, for the Appalachian or mountain dulcimer. Dumbek Middle Eastern Rhythms FAQ My experience with this instrument has been in playing Eastern European music. Despite its name, this page is a really valuable introduction to almost any kind of dumbek playing. Erhu Wonderful World of Erhu This page offers diagrams showing the basic parts of an erhu, with some basic information on how to play it. Watch out for the set of ants that follow your cursor around the screen! Chinese Bowed String Instruments Some more detailed information on the fingering and bowing of an erhu and its relatives. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Fiddle Sanger's Guide to Learning Irish Fiddle Information for beginners. Flute (Wooden) Woodenflute.com A site for players of wooden flutes. The emphasis is on Celtic music. Guitar Homespun Tapes Guitar Lessons A package of free online lessons in playing acoustic guitar, from the people who make the instruction tapes. Bluegrass Guitar Online lessons. Folk Guitar Tutorials, chords and tableture for the beginner. Kanjira Kanjira Lessons A page of free lessons (including video) on how to play this small, Indian jingled frame drum, presented by percussionist Pete Lockett. Mandolin Mandolin Cafe A great place to begin looking for information about mandolins and mandolin playing, though it focuses on bluegrass and jazz. Plenty of tablature and instructional material available, as well as links to many manufacturers. Check out the classified ads if you're looking to buy a mandolin, or another instrument in the "mandolin family". Oud Oud Page A page about the Oud including information about the instrument, as well as music and instructions on how to play. The Oud Cafe A page of oud pictures, recordings, lessons, exercises and much more. Pipa The Pipa: History, Description and Performance Technique Àn introduction to this Chinese plucked instrument. Quena The Quena How to make, play and tune one of these Andean flutes. Rooria The Rooria How to make, play and tune this traditional instrument from New Zealand. Ruan Ruan A brief description and instroduction to the plucked Chinese instrument that's sometimes called the moon guitar. Shamisen Shammy's Page An English language website about this three-stringed Japanese instrument. Sitar Raganet An online magazine that includes several sitar lessons for beginners. Chandra and David's Sitar Site Information on sitar construction, parts etc. Sitar Tuning A page from Silver Bush music on how to string and tune a sitar. Tabor Pipe This looks rather like a penny whistle with only three holes, and you can play it with one hand (in order to beat a drum with the other). You can achieve a similar effect by taping over the top 3 holes of a penny whistle. Pipe and Tabor A good introduction to the instrument, with links to fingering charts, historical material and places where you can buy tabor pipes. (This link points to a page in the Internet Archive.) Pipe and Tabor Class Notes A fingering chart and music for players of the tabor pipe. Ukulele Ukuleles by Kawika Inc. Although this is a commercial site, it contains lots of useful (if sometimes very technical) information on the construction and playing of ukuleles. Ukulele Diner A lighter approach to ukuleles, with good information, great links and a splendid formica pattern! Clawhammer Uke Clawhammer techniques adapted from the banjo to the ukulele! Whistle Chiff and Fipple An informative - if idiosynchratic - page on the tin whistle (sometimes known as the penny whistle). The focus is on Celtic music.