Tanpura (Indian Stringed Instrument)

Vagabond

I'm not sure how familiar you all are with Classical Indian Music, but in a lot of the music, what lies behind the notes of the sitar are the deep notes of a tanpura. I'm sure you have probably heard it before, you might have just been unaware of what it was, or didn't really care. Anyway, I think it is very tranquil, especially when repetitive (which it is usually is). I have fallen asleep to this sort of music plenty of times. I was wondering if anyone has ever meditated to the sound of a tanpura, or what you guys think of doing so. Here is a sample from YouTube:

Jainarayan

I love Hindustani Classical (not familiar with Carnatic). First exposure to it was Ravi Shankar (of course ). While the sitar does have a set of drone and sympathetic strings, the tampura is the primary drone sound. Love it.

Vagabond

Jainarayan said:

I love Hindustani Classical (not familiar with Carnatic). First exposure to it was Ravi Shankar (of course ). While the sitar does have a set of drone and sympathetic strings, the tampura is the primary drone sound. Love it.

Yes, I'm glad to hear you know about this genre. Leave it to a buddhist to be interested in something like this, lol. What is Carnatic?

Jainarayan

Carnatic is southern Indian classical. It's different from the northern (Hindustani) style. That's all I know of it.

Vagabond

I'll have to look it up. I listen to Ravi and a bunch of others who sound very similar, so I don't think I've heard any Carnatic music.

oceancaldera207

Wow that's a really neat sound. I occasionally use didgeridoo.