A Brief History of the Bouzouki

The bouzouki is a long-necked plucked string instrument that is popular in Greece. It is a member of the lute family and has a round body with a flat top and a long neck with a fretted fingerboard. It has steel strings and is played with a plectrum, producing a sharp metallic sound.

The origin of the bouzouki comes from pandourida, the Greek ancient instrument which had been played as an instrument of the traditional orchestra by early of the 20th century. Its journey as a folk instrument began during the Rembetiko era, around 1930.

In 1930, Marcos Vamvakaris established the first folk orchestra in Greece, which featured the bouzouki as the lead instrument. In 1933, he made the first-ever recording of the bouzouki in Greece. These recordings, featuring Rembetika songs, were widely distributed in urban centers across Greece, helping to introduce the bouzouki to a broader audience.

The charismatic virtuosos of the time and the folk songs associated with the bouzouki's emergence were undoubtedly two significant factors contributing to its rapid popularity. Over the first few decades of its presence, the bouzouki became a beloved symbol of Greek folk music.

There are two main types of bouzouki: the trichordo (three-course) and the tetrachordo (four-course). The trichordo is the older type and has a brighter sound. The tetrachordo is the newer type and has a fuller sound.

In addition to rebetiko, the bouzouki is also used in a variety of other Greek musical genres, including laika, folk music, and popular music. It has also been adopted by musicians in other countries, such as Ireland, Australia, and the United States.

Here are some of the different styles of bouzouki playing:

• Rebetiko: This is the traditional style of bouzouki playing, associated with the rebetiko genre. It is characterized by a strong rhythmic accompaniment and a melodic improvisational style.
• Laika: This is a more popular style of bouzouki playing, associated with laika music. It is characterized by a lighter sound and a more danceable rhythm.
• Folk music: The bouzouki is also used in Greek folk music, where it is often used to accompany traditional songs and dances.
• Popular music: The bouzouki has also been adopted by musicians in other countries, such as Ireland, Australia, and the United States. It is often used in popular music genres such as folk, rock, and pop.