Tanbur - Uzbek Traditional Music Instrument

Instrument of Uzbek Music - Tanbur

Tanbur (also spelled Tanbūr, Tanbura, Tambur, Tambura, or Tanboor) refers to a family of long-necked string instruments that originated in Mesopotamia and spread across Southern and Central Asia.

Today, the name Tanbur is associated with various types of string instruments found in the musical traditions of India, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek Tanbur typically has four metal strings stretched over a small floating bridge to a wooden tailpiece. It is played with a wire plectrum worn on the index finger, producing a crisp and resonant sound.

The body of the Tanbur is carved from hollow mulberry wood, and the front surface is also made from mulberry. The neck is often intricately decorated with bone or white inlay, giving the instrument a distinctive artistic character.