Male Tanpura (Tambura)
Full size male tanpuras, pitched for male vocalists and instrumental accompaniment. From Hemen & Co, Kanai Lal & Sons, Monoj K Sardar and our own workshop.
Choosing yours
A male tanpura is the longest of the family, usually around 55 inches, with a deep drone that sits under a male vocal range without crowding it.
Match the instrument to the singer rather than the player. Buying a male tanpura for a female voice puts the drone in the wrong place, and no amount of retuning fixes it.
Gourd bodied instruments give the richest sustain and are traditional. Wooden bodies travel better and are more forgiving of dry climates, with slightly less bloom.
Care and climate
Gourds crack in dry heated air. Keep the instrument away from radiators and vents, and consider a room humidifier in a hard winter.
Slacken the strings for storage longer than a few weeks, and never rest the instrument on the gourd.
Questions we get asked
Who is a male tanpura for?
Male vocalists and instrumental accompaniment. The pitch and length are matched to a lower vocal range.
How long is it?
Usually around 55 inches. Exact dimensions are on each product page, and worth checking against the space you have.
Gourd or wooden body?
Gourd for the richest sustain, wood for durability and travel. In a very dry climate a wooden body is the safer choice.