18
Plucked string instruments
Textbook pp. 46–47
GoalGet to know plucked string instruments: guitar, ud, dutor, rubob.
New words
to pluck · chertmoqplectrum (pick) · mediatorguitar · gitaraud (oud) · ud
Explanation
These instruments are played by plucking the strings with the fingertips or a plectrum (mediator). The guitar is shaped like the number 8 and has 6 to 12 strings; the traditional guitar has six. The ud (oud) is a very old Eastern instrument with 2 to 13 strings. Our dutor and rubob are plucked too.
Worked examples
“Du-tor” means “two strings”: the dutor has two strings.
Class activity
“Rubber-band guitar”: the teacher stretches rubber bands of different thickness over a box. Children take turns plucking and say which sound is high (thin) and which is low (thick).
Practice
1
How many strings does a traditional guitar have?
6
2
How is the ud different from the guitar?
The ud is a very old Eastern instrument with 2 to 13 strings
3
What can you pluck a string with?
Fingertips or a plectrum (mediator)