Tampuras are in the lute family and are classified as chordophones. “Tambura” is the southern Indian pronunciation while Tanpura is the name commonly used in northern India. Tampuras (or tanburas) are the classical drone lute of Indian music. While they look somewhat like a single toomba sitar, they differ in significant ways. Tampuras have fewer strings, no sympathetic strings, no frets, and a moveable bridge used to adjust the pitch, while a sitar does not. Tampuras sound as exotic as they look.
