Bouzouki
 

The real kind for Greek music...

Anyone own one?

I have one that someone gave me, can’t say that I have spent much time with it.

I have a 4 course Irish bouzouki. I enjoy playing it.

I have a 3 course baglamas, which is the ultra-small size for Greek music. Gives a mando a run for the money in terms of volume.....it’s fun. Next time we get together I’ll bring it.

I had one - a Sakis - but sold it years ago when downsizing. Still have a couple of Irish-style zouks, but don't play them much these days either. (Finally realized, closing in on 60, I cant do it all ;) )

I owned a Greek-made bouzouki for a while when I was living in Chicago. Round back, long LONG scale neck. I had bought it hoping to use it for Irish music, but never got around to that. The Greek musicians in Chicago tuned theirs like the first four strings of a guitar only tuned down one full step: C, F, A, D, low to high.

Anyway, I never got very far with it, and when I left Chicago to move to Alaska I left the bouzouki behind at the apartment of a former girlfriend. For all I know she still has it.

I’ve subsequently owned some shorter scale Irish bouzoukis/octave mandolins, three of them over the years, if I remember correctly. I made a lot more headway with those than I ever did with the genuine Greek bouzouki, but the problem I’ve always had with those instruments is that anything I can play fairly well on them I can play much, much better on one of the instruments that I’m actually good at.

So I no longer own a Greek bouzouki or the shorter scale Irish version.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller