The Turkish Bağlama descends from the same lute family as the Arabic Lute and the Greek bouzouki. All of these instruments are similar in that they are either plucked or played with a plectrum, have long necks, and rounded gourd shaped wooden bodies. The history of each of these instruments can be traced back to Mesopotamia and relics and references to the musical instruments have been discovered to have been used as early as 3000 BC.

The Bağlama would have been introduced to the region during the Ottoman empire, its playing style changing over the centuries influenced by the trends of the time. It is still played today in Ottoman classical music, Turkish folk music, Turkish Arabesque music, Azerbaijani music, Kurdish music, Armenian music and in parts of the middle east, and the Balkan countries.

“The Bağlama has seven strings divided into courses of two, two and three. It can be tuned in various ways and takes different names according to region and size: Bağlama, Divan Sazı, Bozuk, Çöğür, Kopuz Irızva, Cura, Tambura, etc. The cura is the smallest member of the bağlama family: larger than the cura is the tambura, tuned an octave lower. The Divan sazı, the largest instrument in the family, is tuned one octave lower still.” (source)

Created from 3 parts, a bowl, soundboard, and neck, all made from varying woods. The burgu (turning pegs) can be translated literally to mean screws. Frets are tied on with fishing line, and this system is thought to have given rise to the instruments name, as Bağlama means literally: to tie.  In some regions, the Bağlama is played with a finger-style known as Şelpe or Şerpe, but the instrument can also be played with a plectrum.