in the skin at the bridge area for enhanced acoustics. Three strings are used, two that reach the end of the neck, and one that reaches the middle. The two strings are tuned in fourths and used to be fixed to the circular neck using a special knotting, although over the last decade standard tuning pegs for guitar or bass has become increasingly popular. How the strings stay in tune is a mystery has to do with the quality of the string, humidity in the air and making the braided leather strips holding the strings wet with saliva, so they don't move. The shorter string, which is also thinner, is tuned like the lowest string and is considered a drone string. Depending on the family, style or tradition there are different keys to the tuning. The most common ones however are C, F, D and G. When the Gnawa are clapping and not playing with the krakebs (a form of castanets), it is not uncommon to add a piece of metal that rings when the guembri is played (sersara). The plucking of the strings is done with the thumb and/or the index, and sometimes the player hits the body under the strings for a percussive sound. The Gnawa player who plays with the guembri is called the Maalem, the master of ceremonies. The Gnawa also refer to the guembri as hajhouj or sintir. The most popular guembri players in traditional and popular music are the late Abderahmane "Paco" Kiruche and Mahmoud Gania- both from Essaouira - the brothers Ahmed & Mustapha Baqbou of Marrakech, Abdelkader Amlil and Majid Bekkas of Rabat, and Hamid al Kasri originally from Ksar El Kebir in the north of the country, but since many years living in the capital. Izlan s Tamazight: sung poetry by the Berbers of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas. It has a body the size of a lute or mandolin, but the neck is usually longer and thicker. Unlike the gumebri of Gnawa, this one has wooden tuners. There are usually four strings (although five is not unusual) tuned in fourths as well. Common tunings are A standard or C standard. It is played similar to a lute, however it has its own tonal range, scales and key progressions that are particular to the Berbers. The main artist plays the lute and sings, accompanied by bendir players and backing singers