Northern India
Hindustani Classical Music

Wood, gourd, bone, metal strings
Length: 55 inches
Mid 20th century
Chordophones – Lutes

This drone style instrument, called tambura is made in Miraj, in southern Maharashtra, and is common in Hindustani Classical music of north India. In southern India, where it is used by Carnatic performers, it is known as tambura, tamburi or tampuri (tanjore style), as it is a slightly smaller variant with the bowl of the resonator carved from a single piece of jackwood.  These instruments support the melody of other instruments or a  singer and provides a continuous harmonic bourdon or drone based upon the raga.  

This northern Miraj-style tambura measures 55 inches in length and has four wooden pegs inserted frontally and laterally in the top of the neck. There are four metal strings that are plucked one string after the other in a pattern to create the tonic resonance field of the Hindustani classical music. It is characterized by a well-rounded resonator plate (tabli) and a long, hollow straight fretless neck. The round lower chamber to which the tabli, the connecting heelpiece made of teak wood and the neck (dandh) are fixed is a selected and dried gourd (tumba). The inlay designs and bridges are cut from bone. This large tambura is known as the male, while smaller ones (@ 42 inches) are known as females.