Kazakhstan
dombra
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan a long-necked lute with two strings, featuring a pear-shaped body and a slender neck, used in perform "kuys" (epic instrumental poems) that capture the spirit and history of the Central Asian grasslands.
karnay
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran a long, straight brass or copper trumpet with a flared bell, used in outdoor ceremonial fanfares, royal processions, and signaling the start of public festivities.
komuz
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan a long-necked, fretless three-stringed lute carved from a single piece of wood, used for epic storytelling, "theatrical" solo performances, and traditional folk music.
qobyz
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a bowed string instrument carved from a single piece of wood with an open resonator partially covered by skin, used by shamans for healing and spiritual communication, zhyrau epic storytellers.
sybyzgy
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a side-blown flute made from cane or wood, which produces a distinctive, often two-voiced melody (incorporating the musician's throat sound or "singing and playing"), used by nomadic herders for solitary entertainment and lyrical folk kyuis (instrumental pieces).
Kyrgyzstan
chopo choor
Kyrgyzstan an ocarina-style clay vessel flute used in Kyrgyz pastoral music and nomadic folk ensembles.
dombra
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan a long-necked lute with two strings, featuring a pear-shaped body and a slender neck, used in perform "kuys" (epic instrumental poems) that capture the spirit and history of the Central Asian grasslands.
komuz
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan a long-necked, fretless three-stringed lute carved from a single piece of wood, used for epic storytelling, "theatrical" solo performances, and traditional folk music.
qobyz
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a bowed string instrument carved from a single piece of wood with an open resonator partially covered by skin, used by shamans for healing and spiritual communication, zhyrau epic storytellers.
sybyzgy
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a side-blown flute made from cane or wood, which produces a distinctive, often two-voiced melody (incorporating the musician's throat sound or "singing and playing"), used by nomadic herders for solitary entertainment and lyrical folk kyuis (instrumental pieces).
Tajikistan
dayereh
Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan a medium-sized frame drum featuring a series of metal rings or jingles attached to the inner rim, used in social gatherings, classical poetry recitals, and traditional wedding music.
doira
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan a frame drum with metal rings or "jingles" attached to the interior of a wooden rim, used in folk dances, weddings, and classical maqam music.
dutar
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, China (Uygher) a long-necked, two-stringed lute with a large pear-shaped resonator, used in epic narrative poetry, classical maqams, and intimate folk songs.
ghijek
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China (Uyghur), Turkmenistan, Afghanistan a bowed string instrument with a small, round soundbox covered with a skin membrane and a long neck, used in folk songs, classical Maqam suites, and instrumental storytelling.
karnay
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran a long, straight brass or copper trumpet with a flared bell, used in outdoor ceremonial fanfares, royal processions, and signaling the start of public festivities.
rawap
China (Uyghur), Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan a long-necked plucked lute with a small, skin-covered round body and lateral horns at the base of the neck, used in virtuosic solo performances and folk dance music.
rubab
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan a short-necked, plucked lute with a "waisted" body carved from a single piece of wood and a goat skin-covered resonator, used in classical art music, Pashtun music traditions, and traditional folk suites.
setar
Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan a long-necked lute with a pear-shaped body, fingerboard with 25 to 28 movable frets, and four strings, used in Persian classical music, prized for its intimacy and its ability to convey deep "hal" (a state of musical ecstasy).
Turkmenistan
doira
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan a frame drum with metal rings or "jingles" attached to the interior of a wooden rim, used in folk dances, weddings, and classical maqam music.
dutar
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, China (Uygher) a long-necked, two-stringed lute with a large pear-shaped resonator, used in epic narrative poetry, classical maqams, and intimate folk songs.
ghijek
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China (Uyghur), Turkmenistan, Afghanistan a bowed string instrument with a small, round soundbox covered with a skin membrane and a long neck, used in folk songs, classical Maqam suites, and instrumental storytelling.
kamancha
Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan a four-stringed spike fiddle with a small, spherical resonator and a long neck, used in Persian classical court music and traditional folk ensembles.
naqareh
Iran, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan a pair of kettle-shaped drums made of clay, wood, or metal and covered with hide and played with sticks, used in the "Naqareh-khaneh" to announce the sunrise and sunset, Naubat ensembles, royal processions, military fanfares, and traditional festive music.
Uzbekistan
dayereh
Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan a medium-sized frame drum featuring a series of metal rings or jingles attached to the inner rim, used in social gatherings, classical poetry recitals, and traditional wedding music.
doira
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan a frame drum with metal rings or "jingles" attached to the interior of a wooden rim, used in folk dances, weddings, and classical maqam music.
dombra
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan a long-necked lute with two strings, featuring a pear-shaped body and a slender neck, used in perform "kuys" (epic instrumental poems) that capture the spirit and history of the Central Asian grasslands.
dutar
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, China (Uygher) a long-necked, two-stringed lute with a large pear-shaped resonator, used in epic narrative poetry, classical maqams, and intimate folk songs.
ghijek
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China (Uyghur), Turkmenistan, Afghanistan a bowed string instrument with a small, round soundbox covered with a skin membrane and a long neck, used in folk songs, classical Maqam suites, and instrumental storytelling.
kamancha
Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan a four-stringed spike fiddle with a small, spherical resonator and a long neck, used in Persian classical court music and traditional folk ensembles.
karnay
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran a long, straight brass or copper trumpet with a flared bell, used in outdoor ceremonial fanfares, royal processions, and signaling the start of public festivities.
komuz
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan a long-necked, fretless three-stringed lute carved from a single piece of wood, used for epic storytelling, "theatrical" solo performances, and traditional folk music.
naqareh
Iran, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan a pair of kettle-shaped drums made of clay, wood, or metal and covered with hide and played with sticks, used in the "Naqareh-khaneh" to announce the sunrise and sunset, Naubat ensembles, royal processions, military fanfares, and traditional festive music.
qobyz
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a bowed string instrument carved from a single piece of wood with an open resonator partially covered by skin, used by shamans for healing and spiritual communication, zhyrau epic storytellers.
rawap
China (Uyghur), Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan a long-necked plucked lute with a small, skin-covered round body and lateral horns at the base of the neck, used in virtuosic solo performances and folk dance music.
setar
Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan a long-necked lute with a pear-shaped body, fingerboard with 25 to 28 movable frets, and four strings, used in Persian classical music, prized for its intimacy and its ability to convey deep "hal" (a state of musical ecstasy).
sybyzgy
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia a side-blown flute made from cane or wood, which produces a distinctive, often two-voiced melody (incorporating the musician's throat sound or "singing and playing"), used by nomadic herders for solitary entertainment and lyrical folk kyuis (instrumental pieces).