Kemenche is a Persian word which derived from the word keman (bow or curve) and suffix che (gives "small" meaning) means "little instrument played by bow". A kemenche is a kind of rebec or fiddle from the Black Sea region of Asia Minor also known as the "Kementche of Laz" in Pontus. It is the main instrument used in Pontian music. In central Asia there are many instruments that can be the origin of kemenche. Studies show that even there are some different names like Kiyak and Iklig the name of instrument played by a bow – which is called Doksar- is generally kemenche among the Mongol and Turk tribes in central and far Asia.

There are different instruments called as kemenche. From these varieties, the Pontus (Black Sea) Kemenche or better known as Pontic Lyra and the Türkmen Kemenche (South-eastern Kemenche) which is used in Turkish folk music are among the best. The Black sea Kemenche has a narrower body and its shape is more rectangular (bottle shaped). All kemenches are played with a bow. Unlike a classical kemenche player, however, the Black sea kemenche player plays while standing.

On some parts of Asia and Europe you can see some instruments very similar to kemenches with different names like Cretan Lyra in Greece, Gadulga in Bulgaria, Rebab in some Arabic countries. But it is interesting that either in Asia or in the other parts of the world you can not find an instrument which has similar shape with Pontic kemenche. So we can say that it only belongs to people of the Pontus region, and everybody originally comes from this part of Anatolia.

Kemenche originally had two strings and came in two shapes. The Pontic Kemenche, it was long and narrow and basically used for folk music. It is made from rose, cypress or ebony woods.

Parts of Kemenche

Qyamancha Kemenche (Kemanche, Kamancha) is a spiked fiddle. It is played on the knee with a horse-hair bow which is tightened with the hand while playing. The body of this Kemenche is in the shape of a parabola and it has 4 strings.

Head or kifal: This is the top of the kemenche above handle. There are three tuning peg on it. When you look from behind it you see a large hole to attach the strings. While playing the head supports the hand which holds from the handle.

Pegs or Otia: Generally a kemenche has three pegs. They used for tuning the strings. The end rods of pegs are splitted to attach the strings easily.

Handle or Goula: This is the part of kemenche which is hold by hand. It gets thinner from bottom to top to fit in hand better. Thus you can play by standing.

Soundboard or kapak: It is the part that covers the carved side of body.

Body or soma: This is main part of the instrument. Inside of body is carved and becomes narrower from bottom to top.

Fingerboard or glossa: It begins from the bottom of head and ends in the middle of body and gets wider.

Pegs or otia: Generally a kemenche has three pegs. They used for tuning the strings. The end rods of pegs are splitted to attach the strings easily.

Top string holder or ksiliki: At the bottom of head it is supports the string not to touch on soundboard.

Soundholes or Rothounia or skolekia or phidhia: These holes let the sound get louder. Generally there are two vertical holes on soundboard but some good quality kemenches has additional little holes (ta trypia) on soundboard and on two side of body.

Middle string holder or gaidaron or kordhokrites or kavalos: It keeps the strings at a certain distance from soundboard.

Bottom string holder or palikar: It is the part that fixes the strings at the bottom of body. Like middle string holder is movable.

Soundpost or stoular: Under the soundboard between two sound holes it supports the soundboard to obtain better vibration and sound.

Bow or doksar: Bow is nearly as long as whole kemenche and it is made by horsetail.

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