Bugchu
{{short description|Punjabi traditional musical instrument}}
File:Bugchu.jpg{{Punjabis}}
Bugchu ({{langx|pa|ਬੁਘਚੂ}}), also spelled as Bughchu, Bugdu or Bughdu, is a traditional musical instrument native to the Punjab region.{{cite web | url=http://www.likhari.org/archive/amarjit%20babri/babri.htm | title=ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਬੋਲਦਾਂ!! | publisher=www.likhari.org | work=An article about old Punjab in Punjabi | accessdate=March 17, 2012 | author=ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਬਬਰੀ | archive-date=August 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809231119/http://www.likhari.org/archive/amarjit%20babri/babri.htm | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.punjabiportal.com/forum/chappar-mela-t1192.html | title=ਮੇਲਾ ਛਪਾਰ ਦਾ - ਛੇ ਕੁ ਦਹਾਕੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ | publisher=www.punjabiportal.com | work=Article in Punjabi | accessdate=March 17, 2012 | author=ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101015741/http://www.punjabiportal.com/forum/chappar-mela-t1192.html | archive-date=November 1, 2012 | url-status=dead }} It is used in various cultural activities like folk music and folk dances{{cite web | url=http://www.punjabinfoline.com/story/6994 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419000700/http://www.punjabinfoline.com/story/6994 | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 19, 2013 | title=65ਵੇਂ ਅਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਦੇ ਅਵਸਰ 'ਤੇ ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਕੌਮੀ ਝੰਡਾ ਲਹਿਰਾਇਆ | publisher=www.punjabinfoline.com | work=Article in Punjabi | accessdate=March 17, 2012 | author=ਪੀ. ਐਸ. ਗਰੇਵਾਲ }} such as bhangra,{{cite web|url=http://hindustanheritage.org/hindustanheri/Bhangra.aspx|title=The Art of Bhangra|publisher=www.hindustanheritage.msg|accessdate=11 Mar 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140112154124/http://hindustanheritage.org/hindustanheri/Bhangra.aspx|archivedate=2014-01-12}} Malwai Giddha{{cite web|url=http://www.unp.me/f16/malwai-giddha-100586/|title=Malwai Giddha|author=|date=22 August 2010|publisher=www.unp.me|accessdate=10 Mar 2012}} etc. It is a simple but unique instrument made of wood. Its shape is very similar to the damru, an Indian musical instrument. It makes a sound similar to its name, "bugchoo".
Design and playing
The bughchu is an hourglass-shaped gourd with stretched skin on heads. A thick cord or string pierces the center of the skin and a knob of wood is tied to the other end of the string.{{cite web|url=http://www.dholetc.com/bugchu.php|title=Bugchu|work=Buy instruments online|publisher=www.dholetc.com|accessdate=11 Mar 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608064530/http://www.dholetc.com/bugchu.php|archivedate=2012-06-08}}
The instrument is held in a crook of the arm and the string is held in the palm of the same hand that holds the instrument. Then the taut string is plucked with the other hand's fingers or with a striker to produce a unique sound.
The pitch of the sound is controlled by increasing or decreasing the tension on the string while plucking the string. Increasing the tension raises the pitch and decreasing the tension decreases the pitch.