Description: The tanbur is a long necked plucked lute and an ancient member of the chordophone family of musical instruments. The tanbur has also has been documented by the author Al Farabi (b. 872 d. 950) who devoted much of his work to the tanbur in his book "khitab al-musiqi al-khabir". It’s believed the tanbur may have also had a pre-Islamic history with in the Middle East. It is known that the tanbur has been found in Ancient Persia and Baghdad Iraq during the Akkadian era 3rd millennium B.C. This instrument then later spread through out the Middle East, ancient Persia and also became popular in Mesopotamia and later on in Babylon. The influence of the tanbur is quite wide spread and it is believed the tanbur likely has influenced the developments of the sargija lute of Bosnia and also the Greek bouzouki. The tanbur it's self also can be played solo or to accompany vocals or often accompanied by other instruments in an ensemble setting. Today the tanbur is spread through Central Asia. In Uzbekistan and Tajikistan the tanbur is used to play the Shash-maqam "art-music".

Tanbur In Iran: The Persian tanbur has a slightly shorter neck and over all size then the Uigur tanbur. In its current form the tanbur has 3 strings often tuned in 4rths and fifths. This type of tanbur has been mentioned in ancient Iranian literature from Khorosan. The frets are tied on to the neck of the tanbur and they are adjustable. The Persian tanbur is almost identical to the dutar both lutes are found in the same region and they share a similar history. The playing technique of the Persian tanbur is meant to resemble a "trickle down the stream". Since the last 50 years the tanbur has mainly been employed during ritual and liturgical ceremonies also called "Djam" gatherings. Its quite recent that the Persian tanbur is being used as a solo instrument. The top strings are of copper and or brass in which are thicker then the bottom string the bottom string serves as a sympathetic string sometimes played.

Tanbur In Turkey: The tanbur has a wide circular body and a long neck. In Turkey the tanbur is associated with Sufi music and also in Makamlar (Turkish Classical Music) The Turkish tanbur has deep resonant timbre when played. Variants of the Turkish tanbur are found including the yali-tanbur who is played with a bow.

Tanbur Tunings

		G-D-C
		D-A-D
Persian		Ab or B

Anatomy of the Uigur tanbur: The neck of the Uigur tanbur is usually fretted with 31 plastic frets which are set to chromatic spacings. The Uigur tanbur has 5 tuning pegs, 5 strings. The neck and staves of the body are made from mullbery wood. The body of the Uigur tanbur is often constructed with up to 10 staves. A sound post is inserted underneath the scratch guard. Often the Uigur tanbur is decorated with ornamental died camel bone usually plain bone and black. The bridge of the Uigur is adjustable.