tanpuri

The tanpura is a small, fretless stringed instrument that is commonly used in Hindustani classical music. It is typically made of wood and has a pear-shaped body with a long neck. The tanpura has four strings, which are tuned to the tonic, subdominant, dominant, and octave of the tonic. The strings are plucked with the fingers to produce a sustained drone, which serves as a reference pitch for the other instruments in the ensemble. The tanpura is played by the tanpura player, who is responsible for maintaining the drone throughout the performance. The tanpura is an essential instrument in the Hindustani classical music tradition, and its use has been documented since the 16th century. The tanpura is often used in both solo and ensemble performances, and its distinctive sound is a defining feature of Hindustani classical music.