Rabab : King of Pashto

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Laila, you are most blessed indeed! Finding a well made instrument of quality here in New York is rather difficult, hence my posting here.

I know that there are 3 sizes of rabab - do you know what your rabab is? I have never heard of a book for rabab. I do have one text/thesis book about the history of the music. I will see if there are any reference charts in it and let you know.

Peace.

[Laila]

Laila, you are most blessed indeed! Finding a well made instrument of quality here in New York is rather difficult, hence my posting here.

Thanks....anytime you go to Kabul or Peshawar....there will be someone there to either sell it to you or to make it from scratch. Mine is from scratch

I know that there are 3 sizes of rabab - do you know what your rabab is? I have never heard of a book for rabab. I do have one text/thesis book about the history of the music. I will see if there are any reference charts in it and let you know.

Peace.

Yes, there are 3 sizes to the rabab. The biggest one, is well, tooooo big. So we got the medium size which is the ideal size. There are books back in Afghanistan to teach you the notes and to teach you how to play songs. But i totally forgot to get them because the day before we left Afghanistan, i got my rabab.

My brother started working on it, and so far he is doing good. He is teaching himself

[Zarawar]

YouTube - ‪Ustad Mohamed Omar - char baite pashtu‬‎

Tar de Ustad omar tarwosa na cha sha rabab wahalai, aw na ba ye wa wahee.
For those who play rabab at home check this out:

YouTube - ‪Ustad Mohammad Omar plays the rubab‬‎

rabab ye dase soor dai chey sarai da sada wabasee...

[Laila]

Here is another thread already on the rabab.....i posted some videos

http://www.pashtunforums.com/enterta...sic-rabab-803/

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Va-vah!!! A musical colleague of mine studied with Ustad Mohammed Omar and plays beautifully. He has been living in Germany for nearly 10 years.

Thanks for posting!!

[Zarawar]

He also had the oldest/ best rababs..........

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Here is another thread already on the rabab.....i posted some videos

http://www.pashtunforums.com/enterta...sic-rabab-803/

Thanks Laila - I look forward to listening and watching later this evening!

I have a small student rabab that seems to have been made by an apprentice instrument maker. It is extremely difficult to tune and pegs slip out of tune no matter what I do to them (chalk; use thread; lightly sand them).

Hence, I am looking for a 4-Fret rabab that is a professional instrument. I intend to put serious study into the music. It does not have to be ornate.

Peace.

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Hi Nazia - I live in New York City in the borough of Queens.

[Zarawar]

Thanks Laila - I look forward to listening and watching later this evening!

I have a small student rabab that seems to have been made by an apprentice instrument maker. It is extremely difficult to tune and pegs slip out of tune no matter what I do to them (chalk; use thread; lightly sand them).

Hence, I am looking for a 4-Fret rabab that is a professional instrument. I intend to put serious study into the music. It does not have to be ornate.

Peace.

Get a rabab that you're going to keep all of your life. The only thing that needs to be changed would be the strings and the leather (baby goat) part. And, that too shouldn't come up no less decades of use. The older the rabab, the better it sounds. Try to avoid the flashy (sadaf) rababs, or the ones that are too huge. Get one that perfectly fits your lap, like I said, avoid BIG ONES. It's a pain!!!

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Zarawar - thank you for the sound advice. It is greatly appreciated. In playing the sitar I faced something very similar. The older traditional musician-friends refer to male and female sized sitars. For years the told me I HAD to play a male sized sitar. Well, I'm average height and have rather small hands. The male sitars were painful to use, even after years of study/playing. My sitar is a small size for a man to play (usually) but for me it is a perfect fit.

Would you have any sources as to how I might connect with someone who is traveling back to New York who could bring a rabab?

[Zarawar]

Zarawar - thank you for the sound advice. It is greatly appreciated. In playing the sitar I faced something very similar. The older traditional musician-friends refer to male and female sized sitars. For years the told me I HAD to play a male sized sitar. Well, I'm average height and have rather small hands. The male sitars were painful to use, even after years of study/playing. My sitar is a small size for a man to play (usually) but for me it is a perfect fit.

Would you have any sources as to how I might connect with someone who is traveling back to New York who could bring a rabab?

I think it would be great if you either go yourself and buy one from Afghanistan, or know someone that is a fan of rababs, to get you one. It's very hard to find the old ones, in fact it's impossible. Rabab is not something you want to buy through someone else, you have to be actually there to test it, see it, feel it and weigh it. Unless, you are interested in the new ones? Those can be a acquired easily, i'm pretty sure they can be found in Pakistan and India. The high end quality could be found through rabab players back home, they would know if someone is selling a rabab, passed on from generations. I remember around 10 years ago, someone was selling one of Ustad Omar's rabab. Cases like this always comes up, if you know someone that plays a rabab or is familiar with the culture back in Afghanistan. Tell them to have their eyes open, you never know.
The best rababs are found in Ghazni and Kabul, not sure if you know, but Rabab was originated from central Afghanistan and particularly Qarabagh, Maqor areas.
I suggest you go to Afghanistan and buy it yourself, I could easily find you a 4-fret, brand new, flashy looking rabab and ship it to you, without guaranteeing that you are going to be comfortable with listening to it for the rest of your life. I cannot stand a cheap rabab sound...

[Shaadi Ki Shehnai]

Nazia - got your message. Is the store you mention Kouchi Market? If so, I know how to get there. It is not very far from me. I went there once long ago with a friend to pick up some food there. Great store.

Let me know if this is the place you were thinking about.

Peace