Tambura Fingering & Rhythm

Video Transcript

"So now we need to talk about playing the tambura with a certain rhythm and a certain flow and plucking of the fingers. To place your hands properly, you take your left hand and place it on the gourd. This helps to balance the tambura. And the right hand is placed, you can rest your thumb on the neck, or leave it open if you're comfortable that way. And you want to pluck the strings. Now you can pluck with one finger or you might find it easier, as I do, to pluck with two or three fingers. A little bit of light pressure going down toward the neck is what gives you that full sound. Now, some people like to flow across the strings, but you will notice a difference in the sound. It's softer, it's not quite as full. So now, I want you to pay attention to the rhythm between the strings. There are certain beats between the strings. The first is sounded long. The next two are relatively short and the fourth string is long. So let's listen. First string long, next two strings rather fast, and the last, fourth string is long. And if you want to sound it out with your voice, that's a real good way to stay on track. You stay with that rhythm and you stay perfectly tuned to the instruments and the voice."