How the tamburica makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tamburica belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
Tamburica or tamboura (Hungarian: tambura; Greek: ταμπουράς, romanized: tampourás) refers to a family of long-necked lutes popular in Southeast Europe and southeastern Central Europe, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia (of which it is the national string instrument), Hungary, Serbia (of which it is the national string instrument along with Gusle, present also in Vojvodina, Mačva, and Posavo-Tamnava), and Slovenia. It is also known in Burgenland, Austria. All took their name and some characteristics from the Persian tanbur but also resemble the mandolin and guitar in the sense that its strings are plucked and often paired. The frets may be moveable to allow the playing of various modes. The variety of tamburica shapes known today were developed in Serbia and Croatia by a number of indigenous contributors near the end of the 19th century.
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a tamburica sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the tamburica?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321).
Where does the tamburica come from?
The tamburica originates from Southern Europe and Central Europe.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1423158 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Tamburica – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Outesticide – CC BY-SA 4.0