Çağlama

Definition

The çağlama is a modern fretted instrument designed with inspiration from the bağlama and the guitar. Unlike the bağlama, the çağlama uses electric guitar strings and incorporates a steel truss rod within the neck, as is common in guitars. This rod provides greater resistance to the tension exerted by the strings.

The guitar does not allow for the production of microtonal commas in its fret system, but the çağlama, by adopting the fret layout of the bağlama, enables the playing of these microtones. The neck structure of the çağlama is unique: it is neither as slender as a bağlama’s neck nor the same size as a guitar’s neck; it has a more robust construction compared to a standard guitar neck.

This instrument, which blends the tonal qualities of Eastern and west music and effectively conveys them to the listener, was invented and first used by Life Kılıçaslan. Today, it has become a well-known instrument, widely used by many musicians especially in Türkiye and around the world. According to Ömür Kılıçaslan’s own definition, the çağlama is "a bağlama played with guitar frets."