Madagascar
Malagasy

Bamboo, Animal Skin with Hair, Gourd, and Metal Strings
Early 21st Century
Length: 21.25 inches; Diameter: 6.5 inches
Chordophone – Zither – Tube – Plucked

The Valiha is the national instrument of Madagascar. It consists of a pipe with two nodes of natural hollowed-out bamboo, on which are tensioned parallel metal strings. Two small bridges (pieces of dried gourd placed at the top and bottom) are associated with each string to define the pitch. The metal strings encircle the whole body and are tuned in a two-octave, diatonic scale. This Valiha is tuned to G-Maj/E-min scales. Melodies are played by plucking the strings with your fingers, going back and forth between the hands.