The baglama or saz  makes reference to a family of stringed instruments. Its function is that of accompanying a vocalist, sometimes in unison, sometimes developing a very characteristic rhythmic-harmonic accompaniment typical of various regions such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Balkans. It can be played with plectron (mizrap or tezene in turkish) or with the fingers. The most common one is the Turkish sax, or bağlama. Its name literally means “musical instrument” in its more general meaning. The term bağlama, which means “knot”, is related to the presence of knotted movable frets.

The Yayli tanbur is a long-necked lute derived from the tanbur (puado). In Turkey, Yayli tanbur denominates the bowed tanbur. The body is similar to the banjo but the neck is longer and has movable frets that allow the instrument to adapt to the microtonal intervals of the different maqams (modes).

In Greece, it is called politiko auto and lavta in Turkey. It is similar to the lauto from Crete but with a smaller body. It is typical of Minor Asia and its technique is similar to that of the ud, with the difference that the Lute from Constantinopla incorporates movable frets that allow the instrument to adapt to the microtonal intervals of the different maqams (modes).

The buzuki or bouzouki (μπουζούκι in Greek) is a stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped body and provided with a very long mast. It is part of a family of lutes of long mast, and its appearance is similar to the mandoline. The box’s front of the buzuki is flat and, generally, nacrous. This instrument is played with a plectron or pick and has an opened metalic sound.

The santur (a persian word that means ‘hundred cords’) is a zither in the shape of a regular trapezoidal box made of mulberry wood that is played by stroking the cords with two delicate wooden hammers. It has two small rosettes in its cover that helps to amplify the sound. The santur has 72 cords, organized in groups of four. Each group of cords rests over the wooden movable bridge that brings a spectrum of three octaves to the instrument. It is used, mostly, in Persian or Inani cult music. From it derives instruments such as the clavecin, the dulcimer, the Persian santur and the modern piano.