Female Tanpura (Tambura)
Female tanpuras, shorter and pitched higher for female vocalists. From Hemen & Co, Kanai Lal & Sons, Monoj K Sardar and our own workshop.
Choosing yours
A female tanpura is around 48 inches, shorter than a male instrument and pitched higher, so the drone sits correctly under a higher vocal range.
The rule is to match the tanpura to the singer. A tanpura pitched wrong for the voice fights it rather than supporting it, and that cannot be tuned away.
They are also the usual choice where space is limited, being noticeably shorter than a male instrument.
Care and climate
Keep the gourd away from dry heat, which is what cracks it. Slacken the strings for long storage and store the instrument upright or flat, never leaning on the gourd.
Questions we get asked
Who is a female tanpura for?
Female vocalists, and anyone needing a higher pitched drone. It is shorter than a male tanpura and sits higher.
Can a man use a female tanpura?
If the voice sits high, yes. Match the instrument to the range being sung rather than to the singer's gender.
How is it tuned?
Pa, Sa, Sa, Sa: the fifth then the tonic in three octaves, with Ma replacing Pa for some ragas. Fine tuning is at the beads.