I was just listening to a recording of Greek music and I was struck by the punch that the bozoukis had in comparison with Irish zouks, especially in playing melody lines and playing a tremolo, like mandolin players often do. Is there a difference in string tension maybe? Or maybe in string length?
Does anybody know?
Mike
The Greek bouzouki has a round back, like a lute, whereas the instrument used in Irish music is generally flat-backed. The Greek instrument has a more attacky, percussive sound than the Irish zouk because of this; it also has much less sustain.
The Greek bouzouki is also tuned differently: CFAD or DGBE, low to high, like the first four strings of standard guitar tuning.
Thanks, RO3B. I knew about the bowl back but not about the guitar-like tuning. They must be braced differently, too. Do the Greek bouzoukis use a tail piece or are the strings attached to the bridge like a guitar?
Mike
Greek zouks have a floating bridge and a tailpiece.
The tonal difference between Greek and Irish bouzoukis mirrors the difference between “classical” style mandolins (with the round lute-style back) and modern flat- or arched-back ones.