INFORMATION ON TANPURA
Tanpura
Information | Instrumental
Tanpura
Male Tanpuras | Female
Tanpuras | Travel
Tanpura
Basics
| Materials and Equipment |
Different Scales
How to Play | Different
Categrories of Tanpuras
BASIC INFORMATION ON TANPURA
Just
like the Sitar the Tanpura is one of the long neck lutes.
It is usually stringed with 4 or 5 metal strings (rarely
with 6 strings) and it is a basic note instrument and
as such an important component in classical Indian music.
They are tuned to the basic note and its fifth and octave.
The strings are only plucked. A characteristic feature
of the Tanpura is its sound that is very rich in overtones
and the special rich sound effect that is produced by
the constant playing of the individual strings and which
has an intensive effect on the listener. The Tanpura is
thus not only an ideal accompaniment for traditional Indian
music, but also an ideal companion for musical meditation,
overtone singing or modal improvisation.
Like
for the other instruments TARANG offers a wide range of
northern Indian Tanpuras of different leading instrument
makers. All Tanpuras are handmade unique objects and not
instruments from industrial mass production. For this
reason, all indications of size and design are only clues
and not binding assurances. Also for Tanpuras we can fulfill
your special wishes in cooperation with an instrument
maker. Please contact us if you have special ideas.
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MATERIALS AND FEATURES OF A TANPURA
The
Indian Tun wood is mostly used for building a Tanpura.
It is an Indian variety of the well-known teak wood. The
instruments receive a shellac varnish using natural pigments.
Yellowish to reddisch shades are the rule. These come
in different lightness and range from transparent to almost
black. Simple Tanpuras usually have decorative borders
of celluloid and plain celluloid inlays as well as woodcarvings
at the resonance boxes, turned pegs and fine tuners mostly
of plastic. De luxe models stand out through their eloborate
inlaid works in the cover as well as carved wooden pegs.
The fine tuners are usually swan-shaped. All in all there
is a better quality of material and workmanship.
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POSSIBLE
TUNINGS OF TANPURAS
By
using strings of different thickness, the tuning of the
Tanpura can be varied to a limited extent.
The
standard tuning of a Tanpura consists of fifth, octaves
and basic note. In the following examples other possibilities
of traditional tuning of a Tanpura are listed when a Raga,
that is accompanied, does not have a fifth. In addition,
we have listed some more tuning examples for 5-string
and 6-string Tanpuras. The creative scope of musicians
in tuning their Tanpura, however, is hardly limited at
all. Independent of the traditional Indian guidelines
any tuning is possible.
4-stringed
Tanpura:
Standard tuning: fifth - octave - octave - basic note
1st alternative: fourth - octave - octave - basic note
2nd alternative: seventh - octave - cotave - basic note
3rd alternative: sixth - octave - octave - basic note
5-stringed
Tanpura:
Standard tuning: fifth - octave - octave - octave - basic
note
1st alternative: fourth - octave - octave - octave - basic
note
2nd alternative: seventh - octave - octave - octave -
basic note
3rd alternative: sixth - octave - octave - octave - basic
note
4th alternative: fifth - seventh - octave - octave - basic
note
5th alternative: fourth - seventh - octave - octave -
basic note
6th alternative: fourth - sixth - octave - octave - basic
note
6-stringed
Tanpura:
Standard tuning: fifth - octave - octave - octave - octave
- basic note
1st alternative: fourth - octave - octave - octave - octave
- basic note
2nd alternative: seventh - octave - octave - octave -
octave - basic note
3rd alternative: sixth- octave - octave - octave - octave
- basic note
4th alternative: fifth - seventh - octave - octave - octave
- basic note
5th alternative: fourth - seventh - octave - octave -
octave - basic note
6th alternative: fourth - sixth - octave - octave - octave
- basic note
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PLAYING TECHNIQUE OF THE TANPURA
A
Tanpura can be held and played upright resting either
on the lap or on the floor, or horizontally on the lap
or on the floor in front of the player. The classical
playing technique requires to put the thumb of the playing
hand to the neck of the Tanpura so that it serves as a
support. The fingers should be placed parallel to the
middle part of the strings. Then the 1st string is plucked
with the middle finger and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings
with the index finger. The plucking is done by the soft
insides of the fingertips so that the plucking is more
like a soft stroking of the strings. The string should
be set resonating softly without an audible touch. The
strings are plucked in a regular rhythm but after the
touch of the 4th string there should be a slightly longer
pause before the 1st string is played again. This gives
the 4th string the opportunity to echo a little longer.
The playing rhythm should not sound too mechanical or
uniform. It is important to convey the impression of a
freely floating, lively vibration.
The
Tanpura is in Indian music a fundamental, elementary instrument.
It does not come to the fore so much, but connects all
the instruments involved by its sound tapestry in an unobtrusive
way. Thus it contributes to a unified musical experience.
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DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE TYPES OF TANPURAS
There
are three main categories of Tanpuras, which vary in shape,
size, structure, basic tuning and use:
Instrumental
Tanpura
The instrumental Tanpuras with a length between 95
and 115 cm are the smallest Tanpuras. They are stringed
with 5 thin steel strings and have, compared to the other
two Tanpura categories, a flat wooden resonance box and
neck. The sound can be described as clear silvery. The
characteristic tuning of an instrumental Tanpura is around
middle C. Instrumental Tanpuras are used in Indian music
for example in Sarod or Sitar concerts.
Male
Tanpura
The male Tanpuras with a length of 140 - 150 cm are
the longest Tanpuras. Their whole build is generally more
voluminous. This allows a low tuning around low C. The
characteristic resonant, powerful sound is a very special
experience. Male Tanpuras are well suited for accompanying
male singers.
`Female
Tanpura
The build of female Tanpuras corresponds, apart
from the size, to that of the male Tanpuras. With a
size of around 120 to 130 cm, they are a little smaller
than those, that is why their tuning is around G, i.e.
in both tuning and timbre between the instrumental and
the male Tanpuras. They are equipped with 4 strings
and are traditionally used for accompanying female singers.
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