Dombra
The dombra is an ancient two-stringed plucked musical instrument of the Kazakhs. There are various types of dombra, including shinkildek, kalak dombra, three-stringed dombra, pear-shaped dombra, and tumar dombra, among others. Researchers categorize the types of dombra found in the republic's regions during the 19th and 20th centuries into the following groups: Western Kazakhstan style; Central Kazakhstan and Eastern Kazakhstan style; Southern Kazakhstan and Zhetysu style. The instrument is intended for playing melodies and accompanying songs, poems, and terme (musical and poetic genre of folk song creation). The dombra is crafted from solid wood and assembled together. Its strings were traditionally made from goat gut, while today line is used. The dombra typically has around nineteen frets. The dombra in the "TURAN" ensemble was crafted from solid wood by master Narbek Okhanov
Three-stringed dombra
The three-stringed dombra is a string instrument similar to the dombra used by the Kazakhs. This instrument is sometimes referred to as a double-twisted dombra. As the name suggests, it has three strings. It is primarily found in the regions of Eastern Kazakhstan and Zhetysu. The three-stringed dombra in the ensemble was custom-made by master Almas Mustafaev. This instrument is a replica of the three-stringed dombra belonging to Abai Kunanbayev, which is displayed at the Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Ykhlas Dukenuly.
Sherter
The sherter is an ancient three-stringed plucked musical instrument of the Kazakhs. Its size is slightly shorter than that of modern dombra. Some scholars also compare this instrument to the kobyz. Historically, the body of the sherter was carved from a single piece of wood, its surface covered with animal skin, and its strings made from horsehair, with no frets. Nowadays, the sherter has been modernized. The upper part of the body is covered with a wooden lid, while the lower part is partially covered with skin, and it features between thirteen and twenty-two frets. The revival of the shorter is largely attributed to the efforts of scholar and ethnographer Bolat Sarybaev. The sherter currently used by the “TURAN” ensemble was crafted by master Nurlan Abdirakhman.
Shinkildek
The shinkildek is a smaller version of the dombra, designed for the convenience of children. This instrument is also called the "baby dombra". As its name suggests, it produces a higher-pitched sound. The shinkildek in the ensemble is from the "Sherter" brand. Throughout the history of the ensemble, the instrument has been replaced twice due to wear and thinning of its top cover.
Zhetigen
The Zhetigen is a multi-stringed musical instrument of the Kazakhs. As the name suggests, the original version of the instrument had seven strings ("zheti" means seven). These strings were made from horsehair and the bridges were traditionally crafted from sheep's knuckle bones. The Zhetigen was nearly forgotten but experienced a revival in the second half of the 20th century. Today, the Zhetigen has been modernized, now featuring around 23 strings made from nylon, and its bridges are made from wood. Ethnographer Bolat Sarybayev played a crucial role in the instrument's revival. Scholar and Zhetigen player Nurgul Zhakypbek also contributed significantly by adapting the instrument to contemporary needs, working closely with instrument makers, and expanding its repertoire. Nowadays, the Zhetigen is widespread throughout Kazakhstan, with an increasing number of craftsmen producing the instrument. The Zhetigen used by the "Turan" ensemble was crafted by the "Sherter" workshop. It was designed to be conveniently disassembled and packed for travel, making it easy to carry onboard during concert tours. Another type of Zhetigen used in the "Turan" ensemble’s performances is the bass Zhetigen.
