Structure & Tuning of Tanpura
This instrument is known as Tanpura (तानपुरा), Tambura (तम्बुरा) and Tamura (तमूरा) in different regions of our country.
Both classical musicians, singers and instrumentalists use it.
The gourd (तुम्बा) of the Tanpura is made of Pumpkin (काशीफल / सीताफल).
It is cut in half and covered with a piece of wood which is called Tabli (तबली).
The reverberation (गूँज / प्रतिध्वनि) from this gourd determines the sound of the Tanpura.
This instrument is made from Tun/Teak (टुन / टीक) wood in North India, but in the South it is made from the wood of Jack Fruit tree (कटहल).
Parts of a Tanpura
Scientific elements of Tanpura
First of all, the sound of the tanpura depends on the length of its strings.
If we examine the tanpura of a female singer, the tanpura of a male singer or the tanpura played with musical instruments, the length of the strings is different in all three, because there is a difference in their scale.
When the scale is high i.e. (c# D#) then the length of the string is less.
How the bead (मनके) in the tanpura and the thread on the bridge (ब्रिज पर लगा धागा) adopt the subtlety of its notes.
Way to play Tanpura
The way to play the tanpura is to play the first string (which is tuned to the middle मध्यम स्वर or fifth note पंचम स्वर) with the middle finger.
The two middle strings which are tuned to the octave and the last string which is made of copper and tuned to the base note are played by playing with the index finger.
