A rebab does not have one fixed string count. Many bowed rebab and rabāba traditions use one, two, or three main strings. Afghan and some Central Asian rubab forms can have far more because melody strings are combined with drone and sympathetic strings.
Depending on the regional instrument and how the strings are counted, a rebab-family instrument may have one string to more than twenty strings. For most bowed rebabs, one to three strings is the normal range. An Afghan rubab may have three melody strings plus several additional strings for drones and sympathetic resonance.
Why the String Count Changes by Region
The name rebab refers to a family of related chordophones rather than one standardized instrument. Regional spellings include rabab, rubab, rabāb, rababa, rebap, rubob, and robab. Some forms are bowed, while others are plucked. Their bodies, string arrangements, playing techniques, and musical roles also differ.
A North African rebab may be a two-string bowed fiddle. A Malay rebab may have three strings. An Afghan rubab has three principal melody strings together with drone and sympathetic strings. The shared name therefore does not imply a shared string count.
Short answer: bowed rebabs commonly have one to three strings. The Afghan rubab has three main melody strings plus drone and sympathetic strings, so a fully strung instrument can have a total in the high teens or around twenty strings.
Main Regional String Counts
Regional form matters more than the name alone. The table separates main strings from drone and sympathetic strings where those additional string groups are part of the instrument.
| Regional Form | Usual String Count | Played With | What the Count Usually Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic rabāba or poet’s fiddle | Often 1 string; some forms have 2 | Bow | Single-string and two-string bowed forms are documented in Arabic musical traditions. |
| Egyptian rabāba | Often 2 strings | Bow | Many Egyptian examples use two strings over a skin-covered resonator, although other configurations occur. |
| North African rebab | Often 2 strings | Bow | Several North African bowed forms use a small number of melody strings rather than additional resonating strings. |
| Javanese rebab | 2 strings | Bow | A bowed instrument used in gamelan and related musical settings. |
| Balinese rebab | Usually 2 strings | Bow | A bowed rebab used in Balinese musical traditions. |
| Malay rebab of Kelantan and related traditions | 3 strings | Bow | A three-string bowed instrument associated with Mak Yong and other regional performance traditions. |
| Afghan or Kabuli rubab | 3 main strings, 2–3 long drones, plus several sympathetic strings | Plectrum | Descriptions commonly record up to about 15 sympathetic strings, although individual instruments vary. |
| Central Asian rubob or robab forms | Varies by local type | Usually plucked in many modern forms | The regional instrument type needs to be identified before assigning a string count. |
Main Strings, Drone Strings, and Sympathetic Strings
On some rebab forms, counting the visible strings is straightforward. On an Afghan rubab, several kinds of strings are fitted to the same instrument and serve different functions.
Main Melody Strings
Main strings are used directly for melodic playing. A one-string rabāba has one principal playing string, while the Javanese rebab has two and the Malay rebab commonly has three.
The Afghan rubab also has three main melody strings. Unlike the bowed rebab forms, these strings are plucked with a plectrum.
Drone Strings
Drone strings provide open or sustained reference tones alongside the melody. Afghan rubabs commonly have two or three long drone strings, although particular instruments can differ.
Sympathetic Strings
Sympathetic strings are thin strings that vibrate in response to notes played on the main strings. They are normally not fingered as melody strings. Their response adds resonance and extends the decay of matching or related pitches.
Afghan rubabs can carry numerous sympathetic strings. Recorded museum instruments show variation in their number, while descriptions of the instrument commonly give an upper figure of about 15 sympathetic strings.
Why Many Bowed Rebabs Have Only a Few Strings
Many bowed rebab types are designed for a single melodic line rather than chordal playing. One, two, or three strings can provide the required melodic range while retaining the instrument’s characteristic playing technique.
Several forms also lack a conventional fingerboard. The player may stop the string by touching it with the finger rather than pressing it firmly against a board, allowing slides and fine pitch movement.
One-String Rabāba Forms
Single-string rabābas occur in Arabic and Bedouin musical traditions. The Syrian rabāb ash-sha’ir, or poet’s fiddle, is one documented example, and single-string rabābas have also been recorded elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula.
These instruments are closely associated with singing, poetry, and storytelling. Their musical range comes from changing the stopped pitch along the single string rather than moving between several strings.
Two-String Rebab Forms
Two-string rebabs occur in several regions. Egyptian rabābas and Javanese rebabs are well-known examples, though the instruments differ greatly in body shape, musical setting, and playing posture.
With two strings, the player can move between different pitch ranges while retaining the compact string arrangement typical of many bowed rebab forms.
Three-String Rebab Forms
Three-string bowed rebabs are found in parts of Southeast Asia. The Malay rebab used in traditions such as Mak Yong is commonly described as a three-string instrument.
Its construction differs from the Javanese rebab despite the related name. The Malay form has its own regional body shape, decoration, tuning practice, and performance role.
The Afghan Rubab Has a Different String Arrangement
The Afghan or Kabuli rubab differs sharply from the small bowed rebabs that account for many one-, two-, and three-string descriptions. It is a plucked short-necked lute with several groups of strings.
A typical description includes:
- 3 main melody strings
- 2 or 3 long drone strings
- several sympathetic strings, with some instruments carrying as many as 15
Because the number of sympathetic strings varies, there is no single total for every Afghan rubab. Museum examples may have fewer, while configurations with many sympathetic strings can reach the high teens or approximately twenty strings. With three melody strings, three drones, and fifteen sympathetic strings, the total reaches 21 strings.
The sympathetic strings vibrate when corresponding pitches are played on the main strings. This produces the sustained resonant response associated with the Afghan rubab without turning those strings into a separate melodic course.
Bowed and Plucked Forms Compared
The playing method provides a useful first clue when identifying what a published string count refers to.
| Feature | Bowed Rebab or Rabāba | Afghan-Style Plucked Rubab |
|---|---|---|
| Typical main string count | 1, 2, or 3 | 3 main melody strings |
| Additional strings | Usually limited or absent on the common bowed forms discussed here | Drone and sympathetic strings |
| Playing method | Bow | Plectrum |
| Pitch production | Strings are bowed and stopped by the fingers | Main strings are plucked; sympathetic strings respond indirectly |
| Counting method | Usually count the principal bowed strings | Separate melody, drone, and sympathetic strings |
A description of a two-string rebab and one of a rubab with roughly twenty strings can therefore both be correct. They refer to different regional instruments and different string systems.
How to Identify the String Count on a Real Instrument
When examining a rebab, rabab, or rubab in a museum, shop, photograph, or performance video, the instrument’s construction usually gives more information than its name alone.
- Check how it is played. A bow usually indicates one of the bowed rebab forms, while a plectrum may indicate an Afghan-style rubab or another plucked regional form.
- Count the main tuning pegs. These can indicate how many principal strings were originally fitted.
- Look for rows of smaller pegs. A separate row of small pegs often indicates sympathetic strings.
- Separate the string groups. Melody strings, drone strings, and sympathetic strings should be counted independently before giving a total.
- Check the regional identification. Names such as rabāba, rebab, rubab, rubob, and rebap are used for instruments with different constructions.
Older museum instruments may be missing strings or other fittings. In those cases, the number and placement of tuning pegs and surviving attachment points can be more informative than the strings currently fitted to the instrument.
FAQ
How many strings does a rebab usually have?
A bowed rebab usually has one, two, or three main strings, depending on the regional form. Two-string instruments are common in several traditions, while single-string and three-string forms also occur.
Does every rebab have three strings?
No. Some rabābas have one string, many rebabs have two, and some Southeast Asian forms have three. The Afghan rubab has three main melody strings plus drone and sympathetic strings.
How many strings does an Afghan rubab have?
An Afghan rubab normally has three main melody strings and additional drone and sympathetic strings. Common descriptions include two or three long drones and as many as about fifteen sympathetic strings, so the total varies by instrument.
Why does the Afghan rubab have so many strings?
The strings have different functions. Three main strings carry the melody, drone strings provide supporting tones, and sympathetic strings vibrate in response to pitches played on the main strings.
Are sympathetic strings played directly on a rubab?
They are normally not played as melody strings. They vibrate in response to compatible pitches produced on the main strings, adding resonance and sustain.
Is a rabāba the same as an Afghan rubab?
No. The names are related, but rabāba commonly refers to bowed regional fiddles, while the Afghan rubab is a plucked short-necked lute with melody, drone, and sympathetic strings.
Can string count identify a regional rebab?
It can narrow the possibilities, but string count works best together with playing method, body shape, tuning-peg arrangement, and regional name.