Description
The Turkish 5 Strings Lavta is a handcrafted lute that extends the classical four-course Ottoman lavta with an added low string, giving the instrument a deeper bass register and a wider melodic range without breaking from tradition. Built in our workshop by Mitre Sertan Sarıoğlu — a professional musician and master luthier who manages Tapadum’s strings line — this electro-acoustic version is designed for players who move between intimate acoustic settings and amplified stage work. The first four courses retain the familiar D-A-D-G tuning of the classical Turkish lavta, while the fifth course is set as a low string that the player tunes to their own repertoire. The result is an instrument that stays rooted in fasıl and Ottoman classical music yet opens up to fusion, world music, and modern composition.
Materials and Construction
The body is carved from walnut, a tonewood prized for its dense grain and warm low-mid response — qualities that give the lavta a rounded, slightly dark voice that sits well alongside ouds, qanuns, and percussion in ensemble work. The soundboard is East Black Sea spruce, a regional tonewood recognized within luthier circles for its tight, even grain. Spruce keeps the high register clear and gives the instrument the projection needed both unplugged and through a sound system.
The neck is shaped from mahogany, chosen for stability across humidity changes and for the smooth feel it offers under the fretting hand. The fingerboard runs the length of the neck with traditional fret placement, allowing the precise note articulation that distinguishes the lavta from its fretless cousin, the oud.
Tuning and Tuning Hardware
The first four courses follow the classical D-A-D-G tuning used in most of the Turkish lavta repertoire. The fifth course is added as a low string and is left for the player to set according to the piece — performers commonly tune it to a low D or A, but the configuration is open to your makam and ensemble context. The instrument ships with mechanical tuners, which hold tuning more reliably than traditional friction pegs and make the tuning process faster — especially helpful when the fifth course is being re-tuned between pieces.
For an overview of common Turkish lavta tunings and how players adapt them to different makams, see our guide on Turkish lavta tuning and timbre.
Electro-Acoustic Setup
A Fishman Piezo Mic is fitted under the bridge, sending a balanced signal directly to a PA, mixer, or recording interface. Plugging in does not change the instrument’s acoustic voice — the pickup is there for stage use, not as a substitute for the natural resonance. For studio work, many engineers prefer to mic the soundboard and use the piezo as a blend or a backup. Onstage, the pickup carries the instrument cleanly over a full ensemble.
Specifications
| Body | Walnut |
| Soundboard | East Black Sea spruce |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Strings | 5 (4 classical courses + 1 added low course) |
| Tuning (first four) | D-A-D-G (classical Turkish lavta) |
| Fifth course | Low — player’s preference (commonly low D or A) |
| Tuners | Mechanical |
| Pickup | Fishman Piezo Mic |
| Case | Premium soft case included |
| Maker | Mitre Sertan Sarıoğlu (Tapadum master luthier) |
| SKU | Tap118 |
Who This Instrument Is For
The Turkish 5 Strings Lavta is a professional-level instrument intended for performers who play Turkish classical, fasıl, and Ottoman repertoire and want a wider bass range than the four-course lavta provides; world-music and fusion players moving between Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and Mediterranean traditions; and studio musicians who need an instrument that can be miked acoustically and also delivers a clean DI signal. Players who already own a four-course lavta will find the technique fully transferable — the fifth course adds depth without changing what the right and left hands already do.
If you are new to the instrument, browse our full Turkish lavta collection before stepping up to the five-course design. For historical context, see Wikipedia’s article on the lavta.
Care and Maintenance
Keep the instrument away from sustained humidity changes — wood movement is the most common cause of intonation drift on fretted lavtas. Loosen the strings slightly if you will not play for several weeks, wipe down the fingerboard after sessions, and unplug the cable when storing the instrument to protect the pickup output jack. With reasonable care, a Tapadum lavta will hold its voice for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Turkish 5 Strings Lavta tuned?
The first four courses use the classical Turkish lavta tuning of D-A-D-G (low to high), which fits most of the traditional Ottoman and fasıl repertoire. The fifth course is a low string left to the player’s preference — many performers tune it to a low D or A depending on the makam and ensemble. Mechanical tuners make adjusting the fifth course straightforward when switching between pieces, which is useful in live and studio settings.
What woods are used in this lavta?
The body is walnut, the soundboard is East Black Sea spruce, and the neck is mahogany. Walnut gives the instrument a warm, rounded low-mid voice that pairs well with ouds and qanuns. Spruce keeps the upper register clear and projecting both acoustically and through the pickup. Mahogany provides neck stability across humidity changes and a smooth feel under the fretting hand.
Can the Turkish 5 Strings Lavta be played without amplification?
Yes. The Fishman Piezo Mic is added for stage and recording work, but the instrument is built to project on its own. The acoustic voice is the primary design goal, and the spruce top combined with the walnut body gives the lavta enough projection for solo and small-ensemble settings. The pickup is there to carry the instrument over a band or into a DI when amplification is needed.
How does the 5-string version differ from a classical 4-string lavta?
The five-string version keeps the four classical courses (D-A-D-G) and adds a fifth low string for extended bass range. Players who already perform on a four-course lavta will find the technique fully transferable — the fifth course adds depth without changing what the right and left hands already do. The added bass is most noticeable in modal passages and when the lavta plays a supporting role to a vocalist or melodic instrument.
Does this lavta come with a case?
Yes. Each Turkish 5 Strings Lavta ships with a premium soft case sized for the instrument, suitable for daily transport and home storage. The case protects the soundboard, the neck, and the pickup output jack during travel, and it is light enough to carry alongside other gear to gigs, sessions, or lessons.
