Music of India 6 Drones and Tanpura

Tanpura

What is a tanpura?

This short video from the Asian Music Circuit's Museum of Asian Music gives a brief introduction to the Tanpura. In the previous post I explained the importance of the Tanpura as a drone instrument that helped the vocalist stay on pitch. In both Carnatic and Hindustani music the tanpura is used to create the underlying tones for either vocal or instrumental performances. Generally a four stringed instrument, though five or more string varieties can be found. Like most plucked chordophones the tabla comprises of a neck attached to a sound box in this case a gourd and soundboard usually made of cedar or teak. Carnatic variations are usually made completly from wood.

Tanpura have no frets, and are usually played with a single hand plucking the strings quite high  on the neck. Played from a sitting position with the tanpura in a vertical upright position, the four strings are plucked one after the other commonly with the right hand, with a second finger, first finger, first finger, first finger pattern. this creates a circular drone as stated in the previous post of commonly the natural fifth, octave, octave, tonic or pa sa' sa' sa, it is interesting to note that the first finger plays all three sa perhaps showing the importance of this tone, where as a western player would perhaps use a alternating first, second finger pattern.

These images show the similarity between a Hindustani and Carnatic Tanpura

  

images taken from ( http://www.india-instruments.de/pag/glossar/g-tanpura.html)

References:
Ford Brad, 'What is a tanpura?' Asian Music Circuit uploaded 2011 (video) [online] available at:.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g7asmyYg58>. (Viewed 1 November 2013) 
Tanpura(2001) (image) (article) [online]Available at: <http://www.india-instruments.de/pag/glossar/g-tanpura.html> (accessed 1 November 2013)