The Note Layout of the Short-Neck Bağlama

• Between the notes of a whole-tone interval, skip two frets. These are:

1. The flat fret.

2. The flat-2 fret.

Example: G – A♭ – A♭2 – A

Example: A – B♭ – B♭2 – B

• No frets are skipped in a semitone interval.

Example: E – F

Example: B – C

• F–G and C–D are exceptions. While the other whole-tone intervals use flat and flat-2 positions, these use sharp-3 and sharp. Bağlama frets are set for these pitches.

Example: F – F♯3 – F♯ – G

Example: C – C♯3 – C♯ – D

Using this information, we can identify the notes at every fret of a short-necked or long-necked bağlama, provided we know the pitches of the open strings. First, we need a firm understanding of the C major octave and the intervals between its notes.

• C–C♯3–C♯–D–E♭–E♭2–E–F–F♯3–F♯–G–A♭–A♭2–A–B♭–B♭2–B–C

After memorising this sequence, find the notes on every fret of each string. On short-neck bağlama, the lowest course begins on D and follows the sequence fret by fret. The middle course begins on G and the upper course on A, following the same order.

Onur Severgün
Rekor Sanat – Bağlama Teacher