Mystic World Drums

The word qanun means “law” in Arabic and it was most likely given this name because it is the instrument that lays down the law of pitch for the singers and other instruments

The Qanuna has 81 strings, in groups of three, with 24 treble strings consisting of three strings to each note. It is most often played flat on the knees of the musician or on a small table.

Qanun strings are plucked with two plectra, one plectrum attached to the forefinger of each hand. A long bridge on the right-hand side of the instrument rests on goat (or fish) skin covered windows that carry the resonance to the box. On the left hand side, each course of strings passes over a series of small brass levers that are used to make microtonal changes in pitch.