The
sintir , also known as the
Guembri ,
Gimbri or
Hejhouj, is a three stringed skin-covered
bass plucked
lute used by the
Gnawa people. It is approximately the size of a
guitar, with a body carved from a log and covered on the playing side with
camel skin. The camel skin has the same acoustic function as the membrane on a
banjo. The neck is a simple stick with one short and two long goat strings that produce a percussive sound similar to a
pizzicato cello or
double bass.