Sitar, Tanpura and Tabla Flashcards
What is a sitar?
A long-necked plucked string instrument with moveable frets and a gourd resonator. It has a characteristic shimmering sound.
How is a sitar played?
A sitar is played by plucking the strings with a metal plectrum
What are Tabla
Tabla are a pair of small drums placed side by side on the floor in front of a player. The heads are made out of goatskin with a central area which has a coating made from iron filings and rice flour. It is made from the dayan (smaller drum) and the bayan (larger drum)
What is the role of the Tabla?
Their main role is to keep the time, but they sometimes interact with the soloist and have short solos. They are manly used to keep the pulse.
What is the Tanpura?
It is a stringed instrument similar to the sitar but it has fewer strings (usually four) and no frets.
What is the difference between the sitar and the tanpura?
The tanpura, unlike the sitar plays very simple and repetitive music.
