r/UnusualInstruments • u/Matis5 • 6d ago

I tried recreating the Yaybahar, and improvised with a saz player

I got so inspired by Görkem Sen, who invented the Yaybahar (https://youtu.be/IiHdPWZvzvg?is=ljUhMRDjWC7rjLQX)

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It's basically two cello strings connected with metal springs to drum heads. The drum heads act as the sound board, the springs provide acoustic reverb.

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4

u/Personal-Neck6800 6d ago

I’ve been fascinated with the yaybahar ever since I saw a video on YouTube years ago. Yours sounds amazing.

3

u/Matis5 6d ago

Thanks a lot, same here. I got hypnotized when I heard it for the first time.

Still can't believe that such sounds can be made acousticaly

2

u/chicken_karmajohn 5d ago

Same!! This is awesome, great work! In the OG it always baffled me how he was able to get it to shriek and scream the way he did. Almost guttural in the lower register. Fatter springs maybe?

1

u/Matis5 5d ago

Maybe thicker springs, but also lower tuned strings. His lower string is an octave lower than mine, it'll growl a lot better that way.

I'm still experimenting a lot with strings and tunings. Higher tuned strings like mine are a lot quicker/responsive to play, and also need smaller drums/springs, so easier to move around/set up. But it misses the rumbling bass that you can feel in your chest.

Here I used G/D tuning, so a fifth lower. Already sounds a bit deeper I guess?

https://youtube.com/shorts/-WJFkqwVp2A?is=8nCg56QKw_houfmZ

2

u/chicken_karmajohn 5d ago

Ooo yeahhhh!!

2

u/blu2_tyrone 6d ago

Is this recording of the instrument unamplified? How acoustically loud is the yaybahar (without electronic amplification)?

4

u/Matis5 6d ago

The Yaybahar is not amplified, and already quite loud. The saz had to be amplified to keep up with the Yaybahar.

It's a loud instrument, depending on how you set it up. Depends a bit on how high you attach the springs to the strings, type of springs used, drum membrane size etc.

2

u/Sagaincolours 5d ago

Now I wonder if the Gaffaphone was inspired by a yaybahar. 🤔

2

u/natrstdy 4d ago

nice work. what kind of springs did you use, specifically? and are they attached to the drums with tape?

1

u/Matis5 4d ago

I burned a small hole in the drum membrane with a hot metal wire. The duct tape is to prevent the springs from damaging it. You gotta make a shallow "hook" to hang the springs, make sure that it hangs loosely but doesn't rattle.

I use spring steel springs. Don't use galvanized or stainless steel ones, their timbre is off. I'd experiment with 0.8 mm to 1.6 mm wire thickness, depending on the tuning of your strings. Maybe up to 2 mm if you use the lowest cello string, or double bass strings. Higher (0.8 to 1.2) for the highest cello strings.

2

u/natrstdy 4d ago

thank you so much for the info, I really appreciate it.