If we were to separate a part of the folk tradition, which, along with the richness of the folk costumes and it's makings, gives the most complete insight into the folk tradition of Herzegovina, then we would certainly have to include folk instruments as well.
One-string fiddles, «diple» (bagpipe instrument) and double flutes (pipes) are not just traditional instruments but they are authentic carriers of folk customs and an indicator of the art of cultivating natural materials from the time they aroused.
The songs that were sung along with the fiddles served as historical origins that carry over many discoveries about the way of life and customs from the era in which they originated.
The practice of music, songs and the art of piping folk instruments are carried on for decades within a family or larger social community. Also, many instruments that are played by people in love with folk musical tradition perform traditional music that was passed on by their family inheritance.
Gusle (one –string fiddles), maybe the most known traditional folk instrument of Herzegovina, are chordophone and folk string instruments.
Fiddles are made out of one piece of hard wood, most commonly out of maple. It is composed out of the head (corpus) covered with a thin skin, neck, and one or two strings (made from horse hair) cocked from the lower end over the corpus to the neck of the fiddle.
It is played with the fiddlestick shifting over the strings on the fiddle. The fiddlestick is a bended piece of wood on which there is also a string.
Dvojnice (double flutes) are two reeds made out of one piece of wood so both of them could be played at once. The double flute is commonly made out of dry maple wood, plum, and cherry.
Diple is also a double pipe instrument. Diple can be attached to a piece of stiffed animal skin.
