<sod>The body of the instrument is a constructed box, a bowl (like the Neapolitan [[mandolin]] or the [[lute]]). It is used to accompany songs, and is less common with larger instrumentation. Instead of a wooden soundboard, the opening across the top of the bowl has a dried snakeskin stretched across like on a [[banjo]]; alternatively, the hide of a donkey or sheep is used. It is strung with between three and nine strings, which run across the skin membrane on the bottom, up the long fretboard and connect to a pegbox, curved backward 180 degrees. Only some strings are struck with a plectrum. The rest are [[sympathetic strings]], vibrating in reaction to the actively played strings. Something that sets this instrument apart visually are lateral extension above the wooden bowl, shaped like cow horns, curving toward the bowl. The neck is inlaid decorated.<eod>
<sod>The body of the instrument is a constructed box, a bowl (like the Neapolitan [[mandolin]] or the [[lute]]). It is used to accompany songs, and is less common with larger instrumentation. Instead of a wooden soundboard, the opening across the top of the bowl has a dried snakeskin stretched across like on a [[banjo]]; alternatively, the hide of a donkey or sheep is used. It is strung with between three and nine strings, which run across the skin membrane on the bottom, up the long fretboard and connect to a pegbox, curved backward 180 degrees. Only some strings are struck with a plectrum. The rest are [[sympathetic strings]], vibrating in reaction to the actively played strings. Something that sets this instrument apart visually are lateral extension above the wooden bowl, decorated cow horns, curving toward the bowl. The neck is inlaid decorated.<eod>