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Tetrachordo or trichordo bouzouki: what is the difference
The main difference
- Tetrachordo: four pairs of strings tuned C F A D.
- Trichordo: three pairs of strings tuned D A D.
In both types the strings come in pairs, and the lower pairs usually have an extra string an octave higher.
What to choose
The tetrachordo is the more common today, and its four pairs give a wider range. The trichordo is considered more traditional, and is simpler in terms of the number of strings. If you are choosing an instrument to learn on, it is worth consulting a teacher or an experienced player before buying.
The link to guitar
The tuning C F A D is the same as the top four strings of a guitar (D G B E), moved down one whole tone. That is why guitar players find that familiar chord shapes carry over to the bouzouki, although with a different tuning the note names change.
How to start
- Choose the instrument on the site (tetrachordo or trichordo).
- Choose a maqam and a root, and play one position with the metronome.
- Open the chord finder and learn a few shapes for the chords of the scale.
- Tune with the tuner before every practice.