Dambura

Infobox Instrument
name=Dambura
names=


classification=String instrument (plucked)
range=
related=
*Lute familyThe dambura (also danbura) is a plucked string instrument, part of the lute family, played mainly in northern Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. [ [http://afghanistan.wesleyan.edu/sharedmusic/teahouse.html Wesleyan - Teahouse music] ] There are two types of it, known as the Turkestani and Badachstan damburas. They are both wooden. The dambura is shaped very much like a guitar, though the dambura is fretless. [http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/central_asia.htm Atlas of plucked instruments - Central Asia] ] It is a popular folk instrument, particularly among the Hazara people. Among the famous Afghan dambura players is Safdar Tawakoli.

The dambura's body and neck are carved hollow from a single block of wood, and the Turkestani dambura's neck is usually made from mulberry or apricot wood. The body is short compared to the neck. There is a tiny sound hole in the back of the instrument, while the top, which is where its strings run, is thick wood. It is not finished with any varnish, filing/sanding of any kind, and as with all other Afghan instruments there is some decoration.

The strings of the dambura are made of nylon (in modern times) or gut, and there are 2 of them on each instrument. They are connected to individual pegs on the end of the neck, and goes on a short bridge to a pin at the other end of the body.

The dambura is played with much banging and scratching on the instrument to help give a percussive sound.

ee also

*Tambura
*Pandura

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