I'm sure many people (myself included) would really appreciate if you did some more Dombra lessons in English, I have a dombra, it's really hard to find any lesson that's not in Kazakh or Russian, i would say i am at beginner-intermediate level but would like to improve.
The strings are actually fishing line, 0.7 millimeters thick if I'm not mistaken. The two strings are made of one length of line. It is tied in a special loop at the bottom of the instrument and the ends are found at the tuning pegs. I am yet to replace them on either dombra, one of which I've now had for a good three years (fishing line is far more durable than nylon guitar strings)
You just brought up a very good point which I will make sure to mention in my next video. There is a trick that I use to find the right spot, and there is also a way to keep the bridge in that spot. It's easier to show you in a video than to explain.
My dombra sounds lower because I have it tuned quite low. I find that different dombras have different qualities in different tunings. Some ring clearer and louder tuned higher up, this one I find really shines when tuned a few semitones lower than the standard. Generally I find that the better a dombra is made, the rounder and more refined the sound is at all pitches and points on the neck, especially the low notes.
Hello bro, As an amateur dombra player, when people ask me "how can i tune my dombra" , i give them your youtube video link. Really good job thank you. You are also playing very well :) When you have free time can you please make a video about -where to place "tiiek (tiyek)" on dombra for a perfect tuning - i hope you understand me. It would be more helpfull!
@@celil111 Hocam, Ercan Arkabay'ın videosu var "Dombra Nasıl Akor Edilir ve Eşik ayarı" videonun ismi kanalı da "Dombyra Sound" orada anlatıyor. 48+24 cm şeklinde olması gerekiyor.
Hi Valentin! I am considering purchasing a dombra after listening to and falling in love with traditional Kazakh music, but I wonder what strings I can use for it, in case I need a replacement. I can't find strings for dombra specifically locally, but I can source guitar strings, baǧlama strings, banjo strings etc. How are strings traditionally made, and how are they usually today? It sounds like nylon strings would work, so maybe I can use nylon guitar strings?
very good. !!!. I would love to learn Dombyra .. I can play the guitar a little and I hope to learn dombra one day.greetings from Tx..where did you buy the dombra ??
Hey Valentin, I just bought an average-lenght dombra which hasn't been used for years i guess... As I tuned the strings to D-G, I realized it makes that well-known rustling noise (when strings touch frets) at almost every frets. The neck is straight, so i figured the problem must be either with the stings or with the (bondaged) frets. Both strings are of the same thickness, something around a B-guitar string. What strings would you use in my place? Thanks!!
It could be many things. First of all, there is a bridge under the strings that came with the dombyra right? If not, that is your problem. Most likely what I think it is: You might be fretting in the wrong spot. Place your fingers closer to the edge of the fret (toward the body of the dombyra), not right in the middle of the frets like on a guitar. Move your finger around and you will find it buzzes in some spots but not in others. It's like learning the biting point of the clutch on a manual car. Eventually you get the hang of it.
Great question! There are books available in Kazakhstan that you can learn the gist of the kuy from, but the soul of the kuy (kazakh musical piece for dombyra) comes from small tricks that can't be notated effectively. Thus the best, and the most traditional way, is to learn by ear!
Hi Valentin, please can u make a tutorial for 1 video, you can type "rock & roll" na dombre, there is 1 guy who is playing rock and roll on dombra, tutorial for that video please
Hi! I’d recommend using nylon strings (even fishing line of 0.7 mm would be fine). Do not use steel strings because originally, in the past people used strings made from thin animal intestines to get soft unique sound. Nowadays we use nylon strings to get the similar effect.
This my friend is a fantastic question. The closest I've gotten is removing all but the middle D and G strings on a 6 string guitar. It is, however, awkward to play in the same style as a dombyra because the neck is much wider on a guitar. The nature of a guitar's construction makes it harder to hit notes with your thumb and to move up and down the neck as swiftly, both of which are often done in dombyra playing. But you will achieve a vaguely comparable result by removing all the strings except for those two middle ones. I have done this before with some success.
I was born there. It depends how much you are willing to spend. You can get a cheap one for $250 that sounds average, but if you want something decent shoot for $700 and up. It depends who makes it though, Kazakhstan is a very capitalist place where anybody can rip you off if you aren't careful about it. I can recommend a dombra maker from Almaty, but none of them ship. I've never dealt with shipped instruments as they are very delicate and I would rather transport them myself.
Update: With the fluctuating exchange rate, prices have gone down by a significant margin relative to the US dollar. I would say that as of June 2016, 400 USD is more than enough to buy a fairly priced, quality instrument.
It's really simple, usually. In a 'western' scale there are 12 semitones to an octave. The bridge should be placed so that the 12th fret is halfway between the nut (near the tuners) and the bridge itself. In many traditional instruments, the 12th fret is where the neck joins the body of the instrument, but this is not always the case! Usually, a note played on the 12th fret is the same as an open note, but one octave higher
I'm sure many people (myself included) would really appreciate if you did some more Dombra lessons in English, I have a dombra, it's really hard to find any lesson that's not in Kazakh or Russian, i would say i am at beginner-intermediate level but would like to improve.
Coming soon my friend :D Very soon.
valentindombrist I look forward to it!
The strings are actually fishing line, 0.7 millimeters thick if I'm not mistaken. The two strings are made of one length of line. It is tied in a special loop at the bottom of the instrument and the ends are found at the tuning pegs. I am yet to replace them on either dombra, one of which I've now had for a good three years (fishing line is far more durable than nylon guitar strings)
Thanks for your great work, it helps better understand how to tune dombra
Rakhmet, Valentin!
I can see you being in tune with dombra. Would love to hear a detailed tutorial on Algissa.
You just brought up a very good point which I will make sure to mention in my next video. There is a trick that I use to find the right spot, and there is also a way to keep the bridge in that spot. It's easier to show you in a video than to explain.
My dombra sounds lower because I have it tuned quite low. I find that different dombras have different qualities in different tunings. Some ring clearer and louder tuned higher up, this one I find really shines when tuned a few semitones lower than the standard. Generally I find that the better a dombra is made, the rounder and more refined the sound is at all pitches and points on the neck, especially the low notes.
I am sure that you are Kazakh))) Very good! Thank you from kazakh peoples !
Thanks for you're vidéo ! Dombra Is a pretty interesting instrument but it's difficult to find some explication about it, so thanks mate !:)
you are nice guy, first time see russian play dombra
Hello bro,
As an amateur dombra player, when people ask me "how can i tune my dombra" , i give them your youtube video link. Really good job thank you. You are also playing very well :) When you have free time can you please make a video about -where to place "tiiek (tiyek)" on dombra for a perfect tuning - i hope you understand me. It would be more helpfull!
dombranın tel uzunluğunu söyleyebilir misin? yani köprü ve üst eşik arasındaki tel mesafesini
@@celil111 Hocam, Ercan Arkabay'ın videosu var "Dombra Nasıl Akor Edilir ve Eşik ayarı" videonun ismi kanalı da "Dombyra Sound" orada anlatıyor. 48+24 cm şeklinde olması gerekiyor.
Hello Valentin! If you don't mind me asking, could you what is the difference between a dombra and a tovshuur/topshuur?
Hi Valentin! I am considering purchasing a dombra after listening to and falling in love with traditional Kazakh music, but I wonder what strings I can use for it, in case I need a replacement. I can't find strings for dombra specifically locally, but I can source guitar strings, baǧlama strings, banjo strings etc. How are strings traditionally made, and how are they usually today? It sounds like nylon strings would work, so maybe I can use nylon guitar strings?
Wish you success and happiness bro
Can be used regular guitar strings in the dombra?
If yes, which strings will be?
The sound of this instrument reminds me the old lute.
Interesting that one should tune the top (bass) string DOWN rather than tuning the treble string UP!
No doubt this saves on broken strings.
Hola saludos desde Costa Rica
very good. !!!. I would love to learn Dombyra .. I can play the guitar a little and I hope to learn dombra one day.greetings from Tx..where did you buy the dombra ??
Thanks, what's the normal size of a Dombra for adults? I currently see the size 91cm , 94 cm and 98 cm? What do you recommend?
No problem my friend!
I'm Kazakh and I can't do it wtf. Love the second music u played.
Same problem... But I'll try until I make it sound at least normal...
Hey Valentin, I just bought an average-lenght dombra which hasn't been used for years i guess... As I tuned the strings to D-G, I realized it makes that well-known rustling noise (when strings touch frets) at almost every frets. The neck is straight, so i figured the problem must be either with the stings or with the (bondaged) frets. Both strings are of the same thickness, something around a B-guitar string. What strings would you use in my place? Thanks!!
It could be many things. First of all, there is a bridge under the strings that came with the dombyra right? If not, that is your problem. Most likely what I think it is: You might be fretting in the wrong spot. Place your fingers closer to the edge of the fret (toward the body of the dombyra), not right in the middle of the frets like on a guitar. Move your finger around and you will find it buzzes in some spots but not in others. It's like learning the biting point of the clutch on a manual car. Eventually you get the hang of it.
szia tamás bácsi
never forget that you are a gengis khan son
greeting from nagy váradi
Valentin, are there any books to learn songs from, or are songs learned by ear?
Great question! There are books available in Kazakhstan that you can learn the gist of the kuy from, but the soul of the kuy (kazakh musical piece for dombyra) comes from small tricks that can't be notated effectively. Thus the best, and the most traditional way, is to learn by ear!
Hi Valentin, please can u make a tutorial for 1 video, you can type "rock & roll" na dombre, there is 1 guy who is playing rock and roll on dombra, tutorial for that video please
Hello Valentin! Would you consider giving me an online lesson to learn one simple song through zoom application or other media for pay?
where Can I buy dombra?
Spasibo ,can u make another video with english ? i cant understand russian
I'm definitely working on it. What kind of videos would you like to see in English?
Danke shön mein herr !
Are the strings gut, horse hair, or steel?
haha good bro I thinking buy dombra but ı cant find in turkey :(
dude u awesome good job
In case of missing original strings, can I use nylon or steel strings? Here in brasil they dont sell dombra strings.
Hi! I’d recommend using nylon strings (even fishing line of 0.7 mm would be fine). Do not use steel strings because originally, in the past people used strings made from thin animal intestines to get soft unique sound. Nowadays we use nylon strings to get the similar effect.
Sir, Do you know how to turn my guitar into dombra?
or even at least to make them sound similar?
This my friend is a fantastic question. The closest I've gotten is removing all but the middle D and G strings on a 6 string guitar. It is, however, awkward to play in the same style as a dombyra because the neck is much wider on a guitar. The nature of a guitar's construction makes it harder to hit notes with your thumb and to move up and down the neck as swiftly, both of which are often done in dombyra playing. But you will achieve a vaguely comparable result by removing all the strings except for those two middle ones. I have done this before with some success.
valentindombrist thx so much for your reply :)
Are you from Kazakhstan?? How much costs a Dombra??
I was born there. It depends how much you are willing to spend. You can get a cheap one for $250 that sounds average, but if you want something decent shoot for $700 and up. It depends who makes it though, Kazakhstan is a very capitalist place where anybody can rip you off if you aren't careful about it. I can recommend a dombra maker from Almaty, but none of them ship. I've never dealt with shipped instruments as they are very delicate and I would rather transport them myself.
Update: With the fluctuating exchange rate, prices have gone down by a significant margin relative to the US dollar. I would say that as of June 2016, 400 USD is more than enough to buy a fairly priced, quality instrument.
Hi, I'm looking for a Dombra player to record some tracks. Are you interested in this job?
Cool video 👍 can I buy a dombra online? Is it really hard to play if I never learned? Where I'm from, no one even knows what it is..
Etsy, Nomad Lifestyle
To learn, they have lessons here on UA-cam
Are you playing with Dombra?
I own a Dombra yes, bought it on ebay, play it a little.
Where you born?
Are you from Kazakhstan? No.
Answer me please!
My question is that what should be the position of the bridge on the dombra because unfortunately mine can slide and i think it shouldnt be that way?
It's really simple, usually.
In a 'western' scale there are 12 semitones to an octave.
The bridge should be placed so that the 12th fret is halfway between the nut (near the tuners) and the bridge itself.
In many traditional instruments, the 12th fret is where the neck joins the body of the instrument, but this is not always the case!
Usually, a note played on the 12th fret is the same as an open note, but one octave higher
Thank you brother
Молодец! Керемет!
супер!!!
Dude, it's shocking.
someone tell me the string lenght of dombra please
its something like 72 for anyone who asks.
donbıra is turkısh army 256 years before
PlayerBrotherhooD -Yigithan Gezici hala öyle kardeşim
не могу настроить не получаеться