Uzbek Tanbur
The Uzbek tanbur is a four-stringed lute played in Uzbekistan and Northern Tajikistan. It is the most important instrument of the Uzbek art music repertoire, and is the foundational instrument of the shashmaqom music system.
The name “tanbur” first appeared in a treatise by the scholar Al-Farabi in the 10th century. Today, it is identifiable by having a single melodic string plucked by a metal thimble plectrum, whilst other strings are sympathetic strings that provide a background resonance. In this respect, it is very similar to the Indian sitar, which some consider to be a descendant of the tanbur. Similar instruments are also found among the Afghans, the Kashmiris, the Pamiris, the Turkish people, the Uyghurs and among different nations in northern Pakistan.
The tanbur is made out of mulberry, with bone, shell or plastic inlays as decorations on the neck and elsewhere. It uses gut strings or plastic for its frets. The frets are raised to facilitate microtonal inflections and extensive vibrato. Steel wire is used for its strings.
