Shah Kaman

Shah Kaman - 2003

Background

This design was developed in collaboration with the Iranian Master Kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor. The prototype was made in 2003, with the design being finalised in 2008. Kalhor named the instrument Shah Kaman, which translates into English as King of Kamanchehs. The shah kaman requires additional tuning, otherwise all traditional kamancheh techniques can be used. The shah kaman has 4 or 5 playing strings and 7 sympathetic strings. The sympathetic strings run in a channel under the fingerboard.

 For a story about the development of the shah kaman see here