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Class of stringed musical instruments From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Benju (Sindhi, Balochi: بینجو) is a type of Zither fitted with a keyboard, commonly used in the Sindhi music and Balochi music.
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The Benju holds a significant place in Balochistan's musical heritage. It produces a rich overtone and creating a mesmerising sound that has become an integral part of the folk music in Balochistan.[1]
Baloch musicians gradually adopted it for contemporary performances and developed and enchanting textural template.[2]
Today, in all regions of Balochistan, especially in the cities, binju is used in all kinds of music along with common Balochi instruments.[3]
It is about 1 meter long, 10 –12 cm wide and the soundbox is about 5 cm high, with six strings. Strings 1 and 2, 5 and 6 are used as bordun (drone) strings and tuned to the tonic and the fifth or fourth. In relative pitch C and G or F. The middle strings 3 and 4 are tuned unison to F or G, and they are fretted and can be shortened by pressing down the metal keys. The scale is chromatic from G to A, B flat or B. The right hand plays the strings by using a wooden or plastic plectron, the left hand is fingering the keys.
The benju is played mainly as a solo instrument accompanied by dholak and tambura. Sometimes it is combined with Suroz.
Benju and Abdulrahman Surizehi Archived 2011-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
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