Whats a tambura tuned to?

[stfx]

I wanted to get into playing, ive played guiatar and bass for a while now and I was just wondering what a tambura is tuned to, or is it just tuned to whatever sounds good.

[Clive]

this is somewhat of a complex answer. The tambura is a family of instruments. I'm not sure how much you know but the instruments of the tambura family are as follows

Bisernica - Lead instrument
Brac - counter melody instrument
Bugarija - Rhythm instrument, plays chords
Celo - plays runs and stuff.
Berde - Bass

There are many tunings for tambure. What you need to know is that all the instruments with the exception of the Bugarija are tuned in fifths. There are four tones for each instrument. I will show them as follows. 1st string, 2nd string etc

Bisernica

There are two common tunings for the bisernica. the first is

G tuning

1st - G
2nd - D
3rd - A
4th - E

E tuning

1st - E
2nd - B
3rd - F#
4th - C#

Brac

There are two commons tunings for this instrument as well. The G tuning is the same as shown above, the other tuning is A tuning

1st - A
2nd - E
3rd - B
4th - F#

Celo

This instrument uses G tuning and A tuning as shown above.

Berde

Also uses G and A tuning

Bugarija

has two tuning styles

D tuning

1st - D
2nd - A
3rd - F#
4th - D

E tuning

1st - E
2nd - B
3rd - G#
4th - E

The bugarija can be strung two ways. A 4 tone bugarija as i have shown above, or a 3 tone bugarija in that case

1st - G
2nd - D
3rd - F# (high F#)
4th - F# (low F#)

I have not seen a 3 tone E bugarija but you get the idea what it would be strung like.

When these instruments are played together, usually the G tuned instruments are played together.

The most common tuning of today's tambure (this opinion might vary from person to person) is the A/E tuning. In my opinion it sounds brighter and easier to play.

I think i've about covered it, if i've missed anything someone step in and fix it.

[stfx]

Sorry for being so unspecific I was talking about a Prim.

[morovich]

Bisernica is another name for prim

[Tominellay]

....those intervals are fourths, not fifths.....and some things don't seem right in the bug section....

[Clive]

sorry bout that. I wrote that after a 10 hour shift. Was half awake

[Sum Junak]

Bugarijas that I've played have this tuning:

G Bug -

D - higherst pitch
B
G
D - lowest pitch

D Bug -

D
A
F# - octaves. highest and lowest pitch

E Bug, same as Clive's tuning

[Djuroslav]

Most 3-tone bugarijas are tuned so that when all the open strings are strummed together, a 'D' chord is heard. The applicable tuning would then be D, A, F#(high), F#(low). Thus, 3-tone bugarija players LOVE playing in the key of 'D' because they can sometimes play, AND drink a pivo AT THE SAME TIME!! :D

[frenchyz]

But what do they do with their cigarette?

[Djuroslav]

A bugarija player's lit cigarette is always placed up on the tuning machine, impaled on one of his cut-off string ends. :cool:

[nencica]

..."impaled"...i like that :D

[bobvuc]

attention: soapbox alert!!!!

...nencica, you shouldn't be smoking!

your good friend,
bobvuc

[nencica]

I'm not a bug player!

[Tarboon]

Shoot! the Tarboon