The Rebetiko Odyssey
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THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Bouzouki (trichordo-six strings)
The trichordo is the bouzouki associated with rembetika music.
The Trichordo bouzouki has six strings tuned in pairs (trichordo). The tuning is D-A-D and most of the earlier recordings were made using the trichordo bouzouki. The reason why musicians preferred the trichordo is that accoustically it is better and louder. The lower Octave D resonates as the melody is played on the higher A D strings acting as a drone and adding a fuller sound to the bouzouki. Kostas Papadopoulos throughout his career favoured the trichordo as opposed to the newer tetrachordo bouzouki. Most of the rembetiko composers used the trichordo to compose their songs.
 
In recent years bouzouki players have began to favour the trichordo over the tetrachordo bouzouki, Same see the trichordo as the bouzouki built to the traditions of the Dromoi (scales) rather than being tuned in line with the guitar but a tone lower.

Bouzouki (tetrachordo-eight strings)
The tetrachordo bouzouki is associated with Manolis Chiotis
The tetrachordo bouzouki is a creation of Manolis Chiotis, who wanted a bouzouki that would use the same pattern of play as the classical guitar and increase his speed when playing. He kept the tuning of A-D on the higher strings but changed the D lower octave string to F and added a lower octave C string.
 
The new bouzouki is tuned in a similar way to the four higher strings of the guitar, but a tone lower. Unfortunately accoustically the strings do not resonate the same way as the original bouzouki and the sound is flatter and has a basey tone. The neck is wider to accommodate the additional strings  that has led to further changes in the sound.

Tsoura
Tsoura (smaller than the bouzouki)
The tsoura is about half the size of the bouzouki and can be made as a six or eight string instrument. Tsoura players have been known to play taximia in the tekkes for hours as a type of background music.

Baglama
The baglama is the smallest instrument in the bouzouki family
 
The baglama is an instrument most associated with rembetika music. Batis was probably the most famous baglama player whose songs continue to be played on the instrument. The baglama has associations with the persecution of rembetes and manges. Apostolos Kaldaras composed a famous song entitled 'mou spasane to baglama' (they smashed my baglama).
 
The little baglama is pitched an octave higher.  Musically the baglama is most often found supporting the bouzouki.  The instrument is often hollowed out from a piece of wood, and is not usually decorated as much as the bouzouki. It’s small size is popular with musicians, as it’s easy to transport or small enough to hide under a coat. During the 20th century, players of the bouzouki and baglama were persecuted by the government of the day and the police smashed the instruments.    
 
Why was the baglama so small? Nobody really knows. Some say its easier to conceal from the police, others have said that its easier to pass a baglama through prison bars!
 
 
The Rebetiko Guitar
The guitar was an important part of rembetika.
The guitar was played in a unique style with rifts and chords sometimes to accompany other instruments and on occassions to take the lead.
 
Katsaros was a singer who used the guitar extensively in his recordings and there are books that teach students how to play the guitar in rembetika music.