Tanpuras belong to the family of long-necked lutes and are as a drone instrument an indispensable element of classical Indian music ensembles. They usually have four to five metal strings which are tuned to a tonic, its fifth and fourth, and are plucked open. 
The body together with the long neck are made of wood, the sound-box is mostly made from a woody pumpkin. Typical for the tanpura is its sound - especially rich in overtones - where the vibration of individual strings seem to melt into a carpet of sound. This carpet of sound is not only an accompaniment for traditional Indian Music but also for modal improvisations, overtone singing and musical meditation. 

Toon wood, an Indian variety of teak, is used most of the time. Shellac containing natural pigments is used for varnishing. Shades of brown are predominant, sometimes with a more yellowish tinge, sometimes more reddish, with differing lightness varying from nearly transparent to almost black. The arched bridge is made from sambar deer horn or modern synthetic materials in the case of branded tanpuras, whereas bones are used for no-name instruments. The lower strings are made of bronze or brass, the higher ones of steel.

Tanpura recordings on CD are also available.

INFO

MODELS

• INSTRUMENTAL TANPURA
  

HIREN ROY P. & BROTHERS CALCUTTA FOLK-TANPURA BHAJANI VINA

A rough distinction is made between three shapes of tanpuras according to their size. The smallest ones are instrumental tanpuras. In Indian Music they are exclusively used for the accompaniment of, for example, sitar or sarod concerts. They are normally equipped
with relatively thin strings and, as a rule, possess a flat neck, a flat sound-box made of wood and five strings. They are between 95 and 115 centimetres in length. Their typical tonic is between c and d and their sound is silvery clear.



• MALE TANPURA
  

SUR-O-JHANKAR HEMEN MONOJ KUMAR SARDAR P. & BROTHERS CALCUTTA BAMBUS TRAVEL TANPURA MONOJ KUMAR SARDAR SUR TANPURA

Male tanpuras are build just like female ones but are visibly bigger and more voluminous with a general length of approx. 140 to 150 centimetres. With their powerful rich sound they are especially suitable for low pitches around the key C, and are traditionally used to accompany male singers.



• FEMALE TANPURA

HEMEN HIREN ROY MONOJ KUMAR SARDAR MONOJ KUMAR SARDAR FLATBACK TRAVEL P. & BROTHERS CALCUTTA

Female tanpuras have a bulbous pumpkin sound-box, four stings, and a general length of approx. 120 to 130 centimetres. In Indian Music they are mainly used to accompany female singers. With their tone colour and a typical tuning around the key G, they are located between male and instrumental tanpuras in respect to their sound.