If you’ve ever entered an Indian classical concert hall, you probably heard a soft, hypnotic humming sound even before anyone started singing. That sound is the tanpura – the instrument that creates the drone.
Western listeners can think of the drone as a kind of permanent, sustained chord (or pedal point) over which everything else happens. But instead of a static keyboard pad, the tanpura is a living, breathing instrument, continuously plucked in a gentle pattern.
Why is the drone so important?
- It keeps the tonic (Sa) present in everyone’s ear – artist, accompanists, and audience.
- It creates a sonic home base, making the shrinking and stretching of notes (meends, gamaks, shrutis) feel grounded.
- It sets the meditative atmosphere that Indian classical music is known for.
Typical tunings
A standard tanpura has four strings. For many raags, a common tuning is:
- Pa – Sa – Sa – Sa (e.g., G – C – C – C if Sa = C)
When Pa (the fifth) is not used or is treated delicately in a raag, the tuning may change to:
- Ma – Sa – Sa – Sa (e.g., F – C – C – C if Sa = C)
These strings are plucked in a repeating cycle – low string, then the others – creating a shimmering curtain of sound. Even when fast taans and complex rhythmic games are happening, the tanpura is there in the background, reminding the music of where “home” is.
In modern practice, electronic tanpuras and apps can provide the same drone, but nothing quite replaces the warmth and subtle overtones of a real wooden tanpura resonating in a hall.