page_title: Cimbalom
section_title: Types
hierarchical_section_title: Cimbalom / Types
caption_attribution_description: English: Romanian țambal in Bucharest, Romania
context_page_description: The cimbalom is a type of chordophone composed of a large, trapezoidal box with metal strings stretched across its top. It is a musical instrument commonly found in the group of Central-Eastern European nations and cultures, namely contemporary Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and in the traditional instrumental music of East European Jews throughout most of that territory. It is also popular in Greece and in Romani music. The cimbalom is played by striking two beaters against the strings. The steel treble strings are arranged in groups of 4 and are tuned in unison. The bass strings which are over-spun with copper, are arranged in groups of 3 and are also tuned in unison. The Hornbostel–Sachs musical instrument classification system registers the cimbalom with the number 314.122-4,5. Moreover, the instrument name “cimbalom” also denotes earlier, smaller versions of the cimbalom, and folk cimbaloms, of different tone groupings, string arrangements, and box types.
caption: Romanian țambal being played by a street musician in Bucharest, Romania
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