Description

"The Tingalin iPhone app simulates this two-stringed instrument with absolute fidelity, going as far as to recreate the wrist-based strumming technique of the ancient Çifteli masters."
~Tech Crunch

"Before I go to bed I simply must play my Tingalin!" ~Imogen Heap

Tingalin is a music instrument application based on the Albanian lute Çifteli (meaning "pair of strings"). This unique app is easy to use and best of all it is lot of fun! Sample melodies are included to get you started!

Tingalin is played by tapping the 14 frets on the instruments handle. Each note is recorded in the tab and the entire melody is played by shaking the device, as if strumming the real instrument. Each strum up and down (meaning shake of the phone) a note is played. Tempo is controlled by the frequency of your strumming!
You also have the ability to play automatically with the push of a button.

You can chose from multiple instrument voicings. Each voicing can be tuned to the preferred pitch using the slider control +/- 1 octave.

Melodies can be shared with others via email.

Playing tips:
The strumming algorithm is designed to mimic as closely as possible the way the real instrument is played. It is sensitive enough to allow strumming in both the up and down direction. You can also vary the technique by strumming in one direction, bring your hand back up gently and strum in the same direction again etc.
F4 is the open string note and in my melodies I use it as a bridge because it is tuned close to the drone string and it transitions well between chords.
Notes do not resonate long so you may have to elongate a note by playing it multiple times or choose a lower pitch that would resonate longer.
Higher pitch faster strumming.

The Çifteli is a wooden instrument with a long thin handle and a pear-shaped sound bowl. This two string lute looks similar to Setar, Saz and Tambura; however, its sound is unique. The first string is used to play the notes while the seconds strings acts as a backup harmonic tune.