The Tanpura

The Tanpura is a four to six stringed fretless instrument made of wood, and usually combined with gourd. It provides the performing artist(s) with a tonic reference and enriches the background with its unique harmonic drone. The strings are tuned in a manner that emphasizes the tonic and the dominant notes of the raag. The bridge is slightly curved to not only provide a buzzing sound (as the strings are plucked), but also to generate various harmonics that enhance the tonal quality of the instrument. The size (gourd and neck) of the instrument may vary depending on whether the artist is an instrumentalist, male vocalist, or a female vocalist. Tanpura was most probably included as a part of a classical music ensemble since the seventeenth century.

The Tanpura player plucks the strings one at a time, in a steady, repetitive, almost orderly manner, using the index and middle fingers.
These days "electronic" tanpuras have become commonplace, since they do not require a human player, are less expensive, simpler to tune, require minimal maintenance, and are easily portable. Many Indian professional musicians (including world renowned artistes like Pandit Debu Chaudhuri and Pandit Aashish Khan) are now touring without a tanpura player and are using the Riyaz Raagini sampled electronic tanpura machine as it sounds so very realistic. However, some artists prefer a natural instrument to an electronic one when available, and sometimes combine the two types. Electronic Tanpuras are, naturally, used by many students for practice as in this way the student can practice for long periods of time as and when needed without the need for a person to sit and play tanpura for them.

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Buckingham Music 4-string Flat Back Tanpura

 

Features:
  • Exceptionally fine tone
  • Elegant, clean lines
  • Hand rubbed deep french-polished finish
  • Full size instrumental tanpura: 39" to 40" L x 11" to 12" W x 3-1/2" to 4" D (dimensions of hand made instruments are slightly variable).
  • Packing, Insurance and Carriage...request by email.

    Click on the button below to order one of these instrumental Tanpuras

    Buckingham Music 4-string tanpura with hard case and extra set of strings -

     $425

    tanpura order

     

Instrumental Tanpuras
Instrumental Tanpuras are used to accompany fairly quiet instruments such as Sitar, Sarode, etc. They are smaller than Tenor Tanpuras and have a round, hand-carved, wooden back.
Tenor Tanpuras are much larger as they are designed to play to the levels of the human voice, which is much louder than most Indian instruments. A typical Instrumental Tanpura is about 39" long x 11" wide.
The more strings an Instrumental Tanpura has, the more different tunings may be used and the more sustain and fullness it gives as it is played.  

Intrumental Grade Buckingham Tenor Tanpura

4 string model shown in photo

Features:

  • Inlaid Trim...please click on photo for larger image.
  • Exceptionally fine tone
  • Elegant, clean lines
  • Extra set of strings included
  • Hard case included
  • Full size instrumental tanpura: 38" to 40" L x 11" to 12" W x 3-1/2" to 4" D (dimensions of hand made instruments are slightly variable).
  • , Email for shipping prices.

    Click the button below to order one of these Tenor Tanpuras

    $425

    tanpura order

    Please direct all inquiries to paula@buckinghammusic.com

    Copyright 1997-2007, N. P. Cutchey, USA. 254-771-2899. All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.  Actual product may vary slightly from that pictured due to the nature of all instruments being handmade.