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Visually, the tanpura resembles a simplified sitar or similar lute-like instrument, and is likewise crafted out of a gourd or pumpkin. The tanpura does not play a melody , but rather creates a meditative ambience, supporting and sustaining the performance of another musician or vocalist, as well as for musicians accompanying a dance performance.
Many pop performances actually involve the electric sitar, [42] which is a solid-body, guitar-like instrument and quite different from the traditional acoustic Indian instrument. The Kinks ' 1965 single " See My Friends " featured a "low-tuned drone guitar" that was widely mistaken to be a sitar. [ 5 ]
As with movable do solfege, the notes are heard relative to an arbitrary tonic that varies from performance to performance, rather than to fixed frequencies, as on a xylophone. The fine intonational differences between different instances of the same swara are called srutis. The three primary registers of Indian classical music are mandra ...
It ranges from about 3.5 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters). The body is made of special wood and is hollow. Both designs have four melody strings, three drone strings and twenty-four frets. [1] [3] [5] The instrument's end is generally tastefully shaped such as a swan and the external surfaces colorfully decorated with traditional Indian designs. [24]
Traditionally drone is often provided by one or more tanpura player(s), especially for vocal performances. The electronic tanpura was created as a marketable, practical solution for instrumentalists, having their hands otherwise engaged, who cannot readily avail themselves of able tanpura players for their long hours of private practice.
The javari of a sitar will be made according to the wishes of the player, either 'open',('khula') with a bright sounding javari-effect, or 'closed' ('band') with a relatively more plain tone, or something in between ('ghol'). The choice depends on the preference of the sitar-player and on the adapted playing style.
Surbahar (Hindi pronunciation: [s̪urbəhɑːr]; transl. Springtime of Notes) [1] sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, it is usually pitched two to five whole ...
The mini-orchestra consists of a number of instruments, often varying slightly by region; the ubiquitous tanpura [80] is used for a consistent, droning ambience throughout, with the mardala [80] for percussion. Melodic instruments range from the harmonium, bansuri (bamboo flute) or sarangi to the sitar and violin. [80]