Harmonics and pitch organization of the traditional tanbûr

Abduvali A. Abdurashidov

Abstract


This article examines the principles underlying the pitch system of the traditional tanbûr, a string instrument widely used in Central Asia, particularly in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The study aims to identify the mechanisms governing the formation of the instrument’s pitch organization. A comparative method is employed, juxtaposing the tones of the tanbûr scale with the harmonics produced on its melody string, thereby revealing consistent patterns in pitch relationships and specific features of the instrument’s tuning. For the first time, the pitch system of the traditional tanbûr is analyzed in relation to its acoustic characteristics and the historical and cultural context of maqâm performance practice. It is demonstrated that the instrument’s pitch system has a heptatonic, non-equal-tempered diatonic structure, in which pitch deviations are regulated by stopping the melody string against tightly tied gut frets. Differences between the natural harmonic series and maqâm performance practice are examined, highlighting the flexibility of the instrument in adapting to various modal systems. The findings contribute to a clearer understanding of the principles governing the tanbûr’s pitch system from both scientific and practical perspectives, clarify its acoustic nature, and provide a theoretical foundation for further research on traditional musical instruments of Central Asia. The results may be of interest to performers, instrument makers, and scholars in ethnomusicology and musical acoustics.

Keywords: tanbûr, pitch system, acoustics, harmonics, modal system, Shashmaqom, Central Asian musical instruments, ethnomusicology, traditional music

For citation: Abdurashidov, A. A. (2026). Harmonics and pitch organization of the traditional tanbûr. Contemporary Musicology, 10(2), 134–153. https://doi.org/10.56620/2587-9731-2026-2-134-153

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.56620/2587-9731-2026-2-134-153

Copyright (c) 2026 Abduvali A. Abdurashidov

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