What is tambi instrument?

Tambi or Thambi is a South Indian folk musical instrument. It is a single-headed cylindrical drum made from a hollow wooden log, with a goat parchment skin stretched and fixed over the larger opening with the help of leather ties. The smaller end is left open and is held against the player’s stomach with a strap around their shoulders, while the other hand plays the skin with a stick or the bare hand. It comes in different sizes, varying in length from 20 to 40 inches and in the diameter of 6 to 8 inches.

Tambi is widely used in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, although it is also found in other regions of South India. In Keralan folk performances, it is an integral part of the percussion ensemble, along with the chenda and maddalam. In this setting, the player beats it while hanging it around his neck with the help of a shoulder strap. This way, the player gets full control over the instrument to perform a variety of playing techniques with both hands. In Tamil folk music, it accompanies many dance forms like Oyilattam, Kavadiattam, and Karagam.

The instrument has a strong rhythmic quality, and its sound blends well with other percussion instruments. This makes it an important part of traditional ensembles in South Indian folk and devotional music.