"Tambura"

The tambura is an indian classical string instrument, the evolution of the tambur (an instrument close to the tambura but of smaller size).

In the XIXth century, this instrument was smaller, because its main resonator is made of a pumkin and big pumkins were not available in India. The neck of the instrument is hollow and is used as a "central" resonator.

Its body is carved out of tun, (Cedrela tuna) or teak wood.
But the special drone effect results from the flat bridge or jawari, which increases enormously the spectrum of the notes and links the strings' vibration.

Main accompaniment for the Indian classical music's singer, the tambura is played on open strings. The 4 strings are tuned PA SA SA SA, (dominant, tonic, tonic, tonic of the lower octave).
By a extremely precise tuning, a tembura can play the raga scale with it's harmonics