The
kanun, ganoun or
kanoon (,
qānūn, pl.
qawānīn; ,
kanonaki; ,
k’anon; ,
qānūn; ; ) is a
string instrument played in much of the Middle East, Central Asia, and southeastern Europe. The name derives from the Arabic word
kānun, which means "rule, norm, principle" itself from ancient Greek 'κανών' rule. Its traditional music is based on
maqamat. It is a type of large
zither with a narrow trapezoidal soundboard.
Nylon or
PVC strings are stretched over a single bridge poised on fish-skins on one end, attached to tuning pegs at the other end.