About the Cumbus

Cumbus is Turkish for revelry, just the mood this instrument inspires. The Standard Cumbus is tuned like the Turkish Oud and one step higher than the Arabic Oud. Any Ud teacher can show you how to get around on the Cumbus (no matter what some of the American guys might say, they’re played basically the same in Turkey); the main difference is that the Cumbus is primarily a rhythm instrument in ensemble, sometimes on top of an Ud as melody in the same group. The Cumbus is 21 inches in overall length. A Saz Cumbus is the most traditional in design, with no frets on the neck and 6 courses of the 2 strings each.