The Saz is a chordophone and is a member of the long necked Lute family. Such long necked Lutes have an ancestry that can be traced as far back as the ancient cultures of Babylon and Sumeria. Today the Saz is the most important instrument of the Turkish folk. The Saz may even define the poetic heart of the Turkish people. Its general shape is similar to the Bouzouki and Oud. The traditional method of playing the Saz is to pluck with the fingers of the right hand and note the strings with the fingers, and occasionally the thumb, of the left hand. Today however, most players use a plastic plectrum to strum the strings. Professional players also use electronic pickups to amplify the sound. When playing with the fingers or a plectrum, players can add rhythm, by hitting the soundboard with the right hand.