Tanpura - A Guide
The canvas of Indian Classical Music, Tanpura is the single most important instrument for a musician. It is not only the sonic drone but also a Guru who guides the student of music.
Anunad (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
Sacred Listening
Indian Classical Music was played and sung in temples which were acoustically designed to suit the music practise. One was required to sit with one's tanpura for hours and discover the music that emanated from it. This is obviously the time when musicians had no gadgets.
Dinkar Kaikini with Tanpura (1998)Baithak Foundation
Tuning for Precision
Usually two tanpuras are used in a concert. Musicians tune them to suit their needs, to enhance particular harmonics and to achieve the required atmosphere of the Raga. Just by listening to the tanpuras discerning audiences could identify the Raga that was to be presented.
The standing view of a Male Tanpura. (2020) by Illustrated by: Rukmini ChakravartyBaithak Foundation
Full Scale Tanpura
A tanpura is made of gourd, wood, bone and metal. These materials are selected with care and crafted with attention to details. Miraj in Maharashtra and Kolkata are cities which host families of these master craftsmen who are in this profession for several generations.
Mani and Bridge (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
The Bridge
The most critical part of the tanpura is the bridge. Ivory and horns of the Sambar deer were used for this however due to the bans, camel bone or plastic are the materials used today. This change has resulted in severe degradation in the sonic quality of the instrument.
The standing view of a Male Tanpura. (2020) by Illustrated by: Rukmini ChakravartyBaithak Foundation
Javari
The bridge is special because of its profile, the Javari. This profile decides the tone of the instrument and also the richness of the harmonic backdrop. A small thread inserted between the bridge and the strings creates the rich sonic texture required.
Upper Bridge and Pegs (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
The Pegs
A tanpura is usually a four stringed drone instrument and the pegs hold these strings in their place. The pegs are made of seasoned Red Cedarwood. One can also find tanpuras with five strings and in that case we can see five pegs.
Bhopla or Gourd of a TanpuraBaithak Foundation
The Gourd
A special variety of African gourds is used for tanpuras. The gourd size varies according to the pitch. Thus male and female tanpuras are very distinctively different in size. The gourd is seasoned and tested for durability.
Upper Bridge and Pegs (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
The Upper Bridge
Just below the pegs one can see the upper bridge which has small holes for the metal strings to pass. The distance between the upper bridge and the lower bridge of the tanpura decides the pitch of it. There are standard lengths for various pitches.
Tanpura Base (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
The Tabli
The wooden face cladded on the pumpkin is known as the tabli of the tanpura. This wood has a slight curvature and is sealed to the gourd with beautiful wooden inlay work. The bridge is mounted on this tabli.
Full Tanpura (2019) by Mandar KaranjkarBaithak Foundation
The Mani
These small beads are used to adjust the tuning of the tanpura. They act like fine-tuning devices. However musicians who tune tanpuras with precision avoid their use as they are unstable.
Playing a Tanpura (2018) by Jairaj KochareBaithak Foundation
The Playing Position
A tanpura is well-rested on the ground and the player folds a leg to rest his/her elbow on it. The height at which the hand plucks the strings in such position is considered ideal by many musicians. Keeping the tanpura on the lap disturbs the sonic canvas it creates.
Tanpura 101
If you are further interested in the history, making and use of tanpura, do check out the series called Tanpura 101 by the young Carnatic Vocalist, Rithvik Raja.
Quality materials, immaculate workmanship and precision tuning come together to create sonic magic. Here is a comprehensive guide that provides greater details of this process.
Microtones in Indian Classical Music
A well-crafted and well-tuned tanpura can create microtones which suit certain ragas and moods. If you wish to know more about microtones in Indian Classical Music, head over to this exhibition.
