Bulgarska tambura. This Bulgarian tambura consists of four double courses in unison, which are tuned to fourths and thirds. Today, DD GG bb ee is it's standard tuning. I tuned down my mandolin from it's standard tuning in fifths (GG DD aa ee) to this It also used to be referred to as pandore, after the ancient Greek pandoura or the Sumerian pantur. Tambura comes from the stem ta(m)bu/or and has denoted a barrell or drum in many languages and pantur meant 'little bow'.

The treble strings of the guitar are also tuned to this and the Greek four course bouzouki, the tetrachordo, is tuned to the same interval, but a whole tone below in C. This tambura playing style is actually nearly identical to the bouzouki, with many trills and other ornamentations. Or how multiple instruments often harmonize together in thirds (or fourths or fifths). Even though the stringing is quite different, the sound of these two instruments is very similar.

The tambura can supply both the backing to a song with it's hundreds of possible chord voicings, or play the main melody. It can also be played with open drones, similarly to the Macedonian tambura. But unlike the bouzouki, it is a folk instrument. It often accompanies the tupan drum, kaval flute, gajda bagpipe and gadulka lyre.

The fretboard is often radiused, but can also be found flat. The frets are fixed metal and placed in a chromatic scale. In the past, tied frets were the norm. The backside is slightly arched due to being carved, but it's neither a full bowlback, nor a glued back and sides like a modern acoustic guitar. The plectrum is called pertse ('feather') and can be triangular or teardrop shaped. Guitar or bouzouki picks are often used nowadays.

#tambouras

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