One of the ancient and traditional Iranian instruments, similar to instruments like the tar, ney, and daf in its spiritual and mystical aspects, is called the **tanbur**. In western Iran, this instrument is considered a sacred musical tool of the Yarsan religious tradition. In the following, we will introduce the tanbur instrument in more detail.
The tanbur is a long-necked instrument with a pear-shaped body, usually made from mulberry wood. The body (or bowl) comes in two types: one-piece (bowl-shaped), which is traditional, and multi-piece (ribbed or “chamni”), which has been more common in recent decades and modeled after the bowl of the setar. The tanbur measures between 70 to 80 centimeters in length and typically has three strings—one sympathetic and two main strings. According to Al-Farabi, it used to have one or two main strings, but today it commonly has three. The tanbur has fourteen frets known as "dastan" and does not include quarter-tones. There are two common tunings: one known as “Haft Dastan” (seven frets or “Barz”) and the other as “Panj Dastan” (five frets or “Teh Rez”). Modern musicians often use a main string tuned to C and a sympathetic string tuned to G. It is played with the right hand using four fingers without a plectrum, and its left-hand techniques resemble those of other stringed instruments like the tar and setar. Main plucking techniques include variations of right-hand, left-hand, fast tremolo (riz), flower pluck (golriz), bud (ghoncheh), and dual strokes (dochapp or dotak).
The tanbur is one of the oldest Iranian instruments with deep spiritual and modal significance. Larger than the setar, it was historically known as the dotar. In the regions of the Gorani and Kalakhani Kurds and Kermanshahi Kurds, it is called tamiyra, and among the Laks, it is known as tamireh. The bowl and soundboard are made from mulberry wood, while the neck is made from walnut.
Among Yarsan communities, the tanbur is considered sacred. Players often kiss the neck before and after performing. The peak of the tanbur's cultural and spiritual prestige was during the 5th century AH when it was associated with Shah Khoshin’s army, and ever since, it has also been referred to as the instrument of Shah Khoshin.
Archaeological findings suggest the instrument is at least 6,000 years old. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time of its invention, its use predates Islam by centuries. One of the most important pieces of evidence is a statue discovered near the tomb of Prophet Daniel in Shush.
Varieties include Quchani, Shirvani, Baghdadi, Ctesiphon tanburs, and instruments like dotar, choghur, and qopuz, which are similarly shaped and still played in many regions of Iran. Based on construction, there are two main forms:
Bowl-shaped Tanbur (one-piece)
Chamni Tanbur (ribbed or stave-built): Easier to make and repair.
Great Iranian philosophers and scholars such as Al-Farabi, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Safi al-Din al-Urmawi, and Abd al-Qadir Maraghi have analyzed and described the tanbur and its tuning systems.
Famous Persian poets like Ferdowsi, Hafez, Rumi (Molavi), and Nezami Ganjavi have frequently referenced the tanbur in their poetry. For example, Rumi composed verses about it.
Bowl (Kaseh): The bottom part of the instrument, usually made of mulberry wood. Shape and size may vary by region and maker.
Neck (Dasteh): Attached to the bowl, significantly affects the sound.
Soundboard (Safheh): Thin walnut wood placed over the bowl’s opening, with 7–12 small holes (2–3 mm) to soften the sound.
Frets (Dastan): 13–14 tied gut or nylon frets; some argue fret positions are fixed, while others allow for adjustment.
Bridge (Kharak): A small piece made from boxwood or walnut, placed on the soundboard, where the strings rest.
Tailpiece (Sim-gir): Located at the base, made of bone or wood, where strings are tied.
Pegs (Gushi): Tuning pegs, usually 2–3, sometimes up to 5; made from willow wood.
Upper Nut (Sheytanak): A small ridge near the pegs with grooves to guide strings toward the pegs.
Frets (Pardeh): Thin threads tied on the neck; the interval between two frets is a tone.
Strings: Usually two or three; the top string is often double. Strings run from the tailpiece to the pegs.
The tanbur is rarely used in classical Iranian orchestras but holds a prominent role in regional and spiritual music, especially among the Yarsan. It is one of the oldest and most authentic Persian instruments, predating Islam. Structurally, it is similar to other plucked string instruments like the dotar, shurangiz, and setar, and many Persian string instruments are derived from it. The tanbur stands as a cornerstone in the history and soul of Iranian music.
