The Shahnameh Guide To The Lutes Of Central Asia

Tanbur

Left: Tanbur body and high frets. right: A tanbur being played.
The tanbur played in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has four metal strings that run over a small loose bridge to a bit of wood at the edge of the body. It is always played with a wire plectrum on the index-finger. Its body is carved from a hollowed out piece of mulberry wood, and the front is made from mulberry. Its neck is often decorated with inlay bone or white plastic.
The Uyghur tanbur is played in Xinjiang in Western China. Its neck is very long and has five friction pegs. It has five metal strings in three courses.