Study on the Acoustic Characteristics of Tanpura Sound Signals

Abstract

Tanpura is invariably used as a drone instrument in the performance and training of Indian classical music. This string (usually four sometimes six) instrument produces a melodious and unique sound. The uniqueness lies in the multiple decay of the total energy as well as the periodic fluctuations of the harmonics. The present paper therefore analyses several spectral parameters (tristimulus 1,2 and 3, spectral brightness, spectral centroid, spectral irregularity etc) of the sound signals of all four strings of a tanpura separately as well as the combined sound. Study reveals some peculiar and interesting characteristics.