Most of the best Barbat players, then and now, are of Pelandan extraction.
Since the Lunar conquest the Barbat has evolved into different sizes. The soprano Barbat is tiny, with five melodic strings, no harmonics, and only played by the smallest women. The alto Barbat is larger, with five melodic and two harmonic strings, and mostly played by women, though many men play it too. The tenor and bass Barbats are much larger, and both have seven melodic strings and a second course of seven harmonic strings strung on a second neck. The bass Barbat is so large that those with only exceptionally long fingers can play it with much facility. It is a wonder indeed to see a well-rehearsed Barbat Septet, with one bass, two tenor, two alto, and two soprano, to say nothing of the heavenly sound they make together.
For more on terrestrial stringed instruments see
http://search.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/1/0,5716,108411+12,00.html
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