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Types of Tanpuras

 

In the types of tanpuras that exist in India, there are generally two bigger classes: the North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian (Carnatic) models. The North Indian types are known as the “Miraj” models as they originate from the town of Miraj. The South Indian model is known as the Tanjore tanpura.

 

MIRAJ MODELS

 

MALE TANPURA:

These types of tanpuras are very tall. They accommodate male pitches from the key of B to D#. They have a very deep sound and hold a great deal of sustain.

 

FEMALE TANPURA:

These tanpuras are not as tall as the male ones. They are used to accommodate female pitches from the key of F to A#.

 

TANPURI: THE INSTRUMENTAL TANPURA

These small tanpuras are used to accompany an instrument, a male-ranged female vocalist, or just to use for ease of transporting the instrument around. The instrumental tanpura, also known as tanpuri, is much easier to work with as the tumba, or the sound box, is not made of gourd, like the male and female tanpuras. It is made of wood. Nowadays, ideas are being made to create fiberglass tumba tanpuras which are virtually indestructible by normal usage.

 

TANJORE MODEL: THE CARNATIC TANPURA

The Carnatic tanpura is known as the Tanjore tanpura. The body is made from a complete full block of jackwood. It's bridge made of bronze, unlike the Miraj models.

 

NEWER MODELS:

 

MACHINE-TUNED TANPURAS

This model of the tanpuri is a more advanced version than most of the tanpuras shown above. Even though the sound quality will be certainly inferior to the gourd-tumba male or female tanpuras, the tuning will hold longer since the tuning pegs are machine based, rather than wood-in-the-hole method. The tuning beads below help fine tuning better than previous models.

 

BOX TANPURAS:

The box tanpura was an idea that came in 2004 by a renowned and famous musician and instrument-maker, Rikhi Ram. This tanpura is to allow the maximum potential for sound to come without the need of a very big instrument or dealing with the fragile nature of the gourds. The sound emission shown here is similar to a guitar, where a sound hole allows all of the sound to escape. Like the machine tuned tanpuri, this is tuned using machine guitar peg tuners.

 

UPDATED: June 23, 2009