A benju (Balochi: بینجو) a type of zither fitted with a keyboard, commonly used in the music of Balochistan. Construction and play It is about 1 meter long, 10 –12 cm wide and the soundbox is about 5 cm high, with six strings. Strings 1 and 2, 5 and 6 are used as bordun (drone) strings and tuned to the tonic and the fifth or fourth. In relative pitch C and G or F. The middle strings 3 and 4 are tuned unison to F or G, and they are fretted and can be shortened by pressing down the metal keys. The scale is chromatic from G to A, B flat or B. The right hand plays the strings by using a wooden or plastic plectron, the left hand is fingering the keys. The benju is played mainly as a solo instrument accompanied by dholak and tamburag. Sometimes it is combined with sorud. Benju and Abdulrahman Surizehi Players Abd-ur-Rahmân Surizehi, now living in Norway Abdulrahman Surizehi song References External links Anne Hytta: Dag, Kveld, Natt. (Sound recording review) BalochistanMusic blog Mohammad Taghi Mas'udiye. Sâzhâ-ye irân. Typewriter zithers Baloch musical instruments