Ghaychak

Ghaychak
Other names	Ghidjak,Ghijak
Classification	Bowed string instrument;
Related instruments
	Rubab;

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side view of the ghaychak

The Ghaychak or Ghijak is a Persian round-bodied musical instrument with 3 or 4 metal strings and a short fretless neck. It is used by Iranians, Afghans, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Turkmens and Qaraqalpaks.

The ghidjak, or violin, is the only bow instrument found in the Pamirs. The ghidjak is very popular throughout Central Asia. Its sound box is metal or wooden, and it has three or four metal strings and a neck made of willow, apricot or mulberry wood. It is tuned in intervals of fourths.^[1]

The soundbox is carved out of a single piece of wood. The upper orifice is partly covered in the middle by the handle and the lower one is covered by a skin membrane against which the bridge rests.