Cool Tool - Swarmandal/Tanpura

[@micahmoses666]

Try putting thread between the strings and bridge for the drone strings. It allows for better dampening and resonance control and tuning.

[@TomStrahle]

Thanks, great idea.

[@GiriNaidu]

You are playing it like Pro..Musicians can connect to any instruments of the world. Welcome to Indian Indian music.

[@TomStrahle]

Love it. Very fun instrument to play.

[@alidalavezzari4103]

Beautiful. I wanted a arpa and I wanted a tanpura! I will have to await but one day I hope to have one of this.

[@earthlilly]

Oh you absolute angel x thank you for this x

[@joytihowe1005]

Great video. I absolutely love swarmandal and use it in my sound healing sessions along with Symphonic Gongs and Tibetan singing bowls.

[@JFairweather]

It would probably make good sense to tune the tampura strings properly and to listen to some Indian music. The tampura is a drone instrument and is not used for melodies.

[@meanwhilepalmer7993]

CORRECTION: Strawberry Fields was not on the Sgt. Pepper's LP, it actually shared a double a-side with Penny Lane as the first single or record of any sort that the Beatles released in 1967. The only albums Strawberry Fields has ever appeared on are compilation albums and the American release of the Magical Mystery Tour LP.

[@TomStrahle]

Sorry I was thinking Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds when my brain changed directions mid-stream when I mentioned Strawberry Fields. I know Fields was on a 45 with Penny Lane. Thanks for the clarification.

[@meanwhilepalmer7993]

No problem, really cool video by the way, enjoyed it. I was introduced to Indian music by the Beatles/George Harrison, and I was looking for information on Indian instruments as I wanted to by one of my own (specifically a Sitar, but maybe a Swarmandal). I had never heard of the Tanpura before, but thanks for introducing me!

[@abhijitbanerjee590]

sir - you do not need a tuner; if you are playing indian music, there is a specific resonance relationship between the differet shrutis & you can very easily find out (they will not appear as waves of sounds) if they are in tune; usually the equi-tempered scales (that is what is given by the tuners) are out of tune for indian music

[@TomStrahle]

I doubt I'll ever play any legitimate Indian music with this instrument, strictly Western uses.

[@WangBatTumenjargal]

"Oh!tanpura is too easy,let put other thing on it." and this pop out

[@TomStrahle]

Haha, nice.

[@beautifulmicia]

Thanks for the notes. This is really a cheap unit but as long as you can make good music, that is what really matters. When I ordered mine from India, it took only 3 days to receive it.

[@TomStrahle]

beautifulmicia I know crazy huh? Mine came wrapped as a Christmas present.

[@anachk]

Wonderful video. Thanks!

[@Subhadhra108]

I just got mine today. I used to play a swara AND a tamboura (not at the same time) in an ashram I lived in. I just love playing this. Thank you for sharing how you tuned yours. I know this is an old video and I'm sure by now someone has told you how to pronounce the name of the instrument. But if not, it's pronounced swara-man-dala. (no "sh" sound. Just an "S" sound.) Do you have any other videos re: tuning this, please?

[@TomStrahle]

I don't. Usually some form of D minor. Lots of double pitches. I'm sure someone who knows much more than me about that has made a video or two. I'd hate to steer you wrong. Im just impressed you found one.

[@rontan8433]

I've got this today and I seriously need help to learn how to tune it. It sounds amazing

[@TomStrahle]

Pretty much however you want to tune it. You can use any scale and mix it up. That's what I did.

[@MarkTitus420]

I love the sound of this instrument. Where can I hear a complete performance where the music is accompanied by the swarmandal?

[@TomStrahle]

Thank you. I don't know that anything I've played it on is out there yet. Used it on a Feed The Children campaign recently. Not sure if that will be on TV or internet only. I just got the instrument so it's bound to show up here and there. But generally as background or accompaniment. Not as a feature.

[@Beanmachine91]

rock on!

[@mansharker8]

1:33 Lethal Lava land of Mario 64 right there :D It is a Tanpura! wow...Finally finding the real instrument that song is played with :D Cool childhood moment right there.

[@TomStrahle]

mansharker8 Haha, awesome!

[@rfdebeaumont]

Immediately spotted the Mario 64 tune too! :)

[@shmandeluca]

Came to the comments to see if anyone else heard it too

Just ordered one, then I belong to your musical family :)

[@I.L.N.T.shop7778]

great video and thank you so much......I have tuned mine in C (the tanpuri) any help on how to tune accordingly the swarmandal would be highly appreciated

[@MerkabaKid]

Great info.. Thanks for sharing 🍀

[@Primitiveimage]

the beatles used a swordmandal in Strawberry Fields Forever but not Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. They used a tampura in Lucy. And Strawberry Fields Forever wasnt on the sgt. pepper album

[@hiteshvaidya3331]

Hi friend, thank you for the information. But just a couple of corrections, they are spelt as, "swarmandal" and "taanpuraa".

[@Primitiveimage]

Hitesh Vaidya tanpura can be spelled either way

[@mariaharald9779]

cool...greetings from 2 musicians (sitar & tanpura) from germany ......(maria&harald,the nectar of the night)...

[@TomStrahle]

Greetings Maria!

[@maneeshnicolastesla_ak]

CDEF#GAB in india is called " Kalyani ," is not a scale it is a raagaa 😁😁

[@prateekbhardwaj9943]

nice tone, but it might be very expensive to change and maintenance all these strings..

[@shivomsharma1576]

thank you sir

[@HelderMusic107]

Great tutorial. What clip tuner are you using please? Thanks.

[@Subhadhra108]

I used to play the Swaramandala and the Tamboura when I lived in an ashram in Oakland. I was quite surprised to see now there's both in 1 instrument! I was wondering where you got yours, please, and was the price reasonable? If I may suggest, if you use a felt pick for the swara will have a softer tone and you save your fingers. 😊. Thank you.

[@TomStrahle]

The link is in the description - www.amazon.com/MAHARAJA-Swarmandal-Tanpura-Wood-PDI-AAJ/dp/B007JT4EIE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392707000&sr=8-1&keywords=swarmandal+tanpura But it shows currently unavailable. Try Reverb.com or eBay.

[@ILNT]

Thank you very much for sharing yr knowledge it’s much appreciated 🙂 I recently bought a Swarmandal/Tanpura instrument which sounds amazing and I have asked the seller to provide me the tunning notes for the Swarmandal but I haven’t received anything but the running notes for the Tanpura part of the instrument.The Tanpura is tuned in C# G# C F#. Would it be possible if you could help me with tuning my swarmandal? It has only 16 strings Thank you very much

[@ILNT]

Can’t thank you enough for sharing this mate✌️✌️✌️ Just got mine today and you have saved the day for me and can enjoy it now😀 The swarmandal strings are plastic though and I think they should be metal? The same applies for the Tanpura strings,all of them plus the spare are like those classic guitars have. And comment on that?

[@sanjeevmraman]

Nice video! it's given me some ideas on trying to build one. Are you able to 'guesstimate' how thick the top is? Also, since you were wondering about the pronunciation- here's how you would pronounce it: Sw (like in 'sweet') and all the A's are pronounced like the "U" sound in 'umbrella'- (essentially swur-mun-dul), without emphasis on any particular syllable, unlike the usual tendency in the US of stressing the 2nd or 3rd syllable of every word

[@sanjeevmraman]

+Tom Strahle : Sorry- no offense meant by the correction of your pronunciation- My apologies. Thanks for your reply on the top thickness.

[@TomStrahle]

+lydianfreak No need to apologize. I wasn't offended. Always like to be corrected when wrong on anything.

[@mmarcaljr]

Have you tried to put some strings below the lower string's bridge to see if it resonates better? Like a real tanpura you know? I miss that sound! Nice instrument by tha way!! ;)

[@abhijitbanerjee590]

the tumba is missing from this;

[@GuyJohnson1957]

I like it and would like to have one too~

[@TomStrahle]

I've used it on several sessions already. It's almost paid for itself. Very fun instrument.

[@TheCornerRocket]

❤️ from India

[@Raku777]

Thanks very much for sharing this! Is it possible to tune the harp part to alternating D and A notes, or maybe D-F-A, or maybe just a high number of D and A notes (can be of different octaves)?

[@TomStrahle]

+Raku777 Probably, but you might have to change the string gauge depending on how far away from the original set-up you tune.

[@Raku777]

+Tom Strahle Thank you, I will keep this in mind...mine is already on order and shipped!

[@TomStrahle]

+Raku777 Very cool. I loved it.

[@MandalasArte]

Hey, cool video… Where we can find the strings? guitar strings works? thanks...

[@TomStrahle]

Ha, that's a great question. I'm not sure what kind of strings it uses exactly, but it appears you could totally use regular guitar strings on it.

[@shivomsharma1576]

hi sir , may I please know ,from where did you get this instrument

[@TomStrahle]

Link was in the description but here it is here... www.amazon.com/MAHARAJA-Swarmandal-Tanpura-Wood-PDI-AAJ/dp/B007JT4EIE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392707000&sr=8-1&keywords=swarmandal+tanpura

[@sumitduragkar1177]

Sir can please share the technical issues like lenghth and width of the instrument ...as wel what should be the standered measure of strings for perticuler scale.....and the key that you you uses for tighten the strings... Her you made one of the good Sur Mandal as wel as good tanpura- which can easily carry some where..... Sir please share the details about you study and invention....

[@TomStrahle]

I didn’t make it myself I bought it on Amazon. There’s a link in the video description.

[@oriomenoni7651]

Strawberry Fields!

[@liamvnbw]

Every 2 strings on the swarmandal that lie next to eachother can be tuned the same, to give that typical effect.

[@HolisticValuesAnnieClairvoyant]

Hi so what are your notes, I have just bought one and those strings don't sound quite right. A y ideas?

[@vkp6767]

Where did you get it?

[@TomStrahle]

I got it at Amazon, the link is in the info, but no longer available. Maybe try reverb.com or Etsy.

[@vkp6767]

@@TomStrahle thanks thats helpful… this device would be an angel for me

[@vkp6767]

@@TomStrahle Hey thanks. Do you know how many scales can I tune this tanpura in?

[@marisolfonseca31]

Hi!! I know this video is from 2014. I work in sound healing and I have just bought one, and it was difficult for me to understand you the notes. Could you tell me if these are the notes that you mentioned in the video: G F# D C A G F# D E F# E D C B A?? Thanks a lot for your help.

[@TomStrahle]

Exactly. But you can tune it to any scale you want. I kind of custom made that one.

[@marisolfonseca31]

@@TomStrahle Thanks a lot for responding Tom. If you could help me with this other doubt please: what kind of strings can I buy for the swarmandal? It has very bad quality strings. A have an Elixir acoustic 80/20 Bronze, 13 56 medium box that I bought for the tampura, but I do not know which ones I should buy for the swarmandal.

[@evanpincus2203]

How much did this cost?

[@TomStrahle]

E P I think around $250. That's what it is at Amazon.

[@evanpincus2203]

Oh wow! I should get one of these!

[@TomStrahle]

E P There's an Amazon link in the video description.

[@hiteshvaidya3331]

good video. Besides calling it "swarmandal", you may call it as "surmandal" also. Anything is fine. Best wishes

[@TomStrahle]

Thanks!

[@TomStrahle]

You can tune it to whatever notes you want too, which is uber cool.

[@SunFellow941]

they sound much better seperately

[@TomStrahle]

I'm sure they do. Works well for the TV and film work I do.

[@lynch2502]

You are playing the tanpura wrong. Please have a tutorial on tanpura.

[@TomStrahle]

I'm sure I am. I still have fun with it. I will check out a tutorial.

[@lasideasfugazes]

I see you finally bought the instrument! hahaha

[@TomStrahle]

Dude, thanks so much for sharing this. I love it. I just used it in a video for World Vision. It sounded amazing!