Rubab AKA the Lion of musical instruments:
The Rubab is the national instrument of Afghanistan. It’s origins & root goes back to about 7th century, in Central Afghanistan.
Rubab is mostly played by Afghans, Pashtun, Tajik, Kashmiri & Persians classical music.
The Rubab is a double chambered lute (is any plucked string instrument with a neck) and its body is carved out of a single piece of wood, with a membrane covering the hollow bowl of the sound-chamber, upon which the bridge is positioned.
It has three melody strings tuned in fourths, 4 Frets. Three drone strings and 15 sympathetic strings.
The instrument is made from the trunk of a mulberry tree, and or out of Rose wood, the head from goat skin and the strings originally from gut the intestines of young goats, brought to the size of thread) and now in nylon.
The Afghan Rubab is featured in many Classical and traditional folk and melodies and is often referred to by Afghan and Persian Sufi poets in their poems especially notable to mention is Rumi.
Some Links to listen to Rubab...
Supplication - ذاري" by AQ :
Pakistani Men Playing Traditional Rubab Instrument:
Rahim Khushnawaz:
Thanks for sharing. What a fantastic instrument and beautiful music. I understood that there are not many Rubab players left nowadays. Perhaps I am wrong. Do you play it?
Unfortunately no, #ProgrammersLife
I just have love for Rubab, "Humayun Sakhi" is an amazing musician who plays rubab, do listen to him if you want to...
Thanks. I will listen to the music. My connection with the rubab is an old friend of mine from Afghanistan who intoduced me to it. He used to learn Sitar however discovered later on the rubab.