The Stringed Instrument Database
T
Tai Neua
Alternative names: Tai Leu
Origin: Laos.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Taishogoto
Alternative names: Taishokoto, Nagoya harp.
Origin: Japan, during the Taisho period (1912-1926), from which it takes it's name.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: varies/2
Further notes: The strings are fretted by pressing keys, which are often typewriter keys. The strings are plucked with a plectrum. Steel strings.
Scale Length:
Talharpa
Alternative names: Tagelharpa, Strakharpa
Origin: Estonia. Also formerly played in Sweden, but now rare there.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 3/3 is most common, but sometimes 2/2 or 4/4.
Further notes: Traditionally horse hair strings. Nowadays usually steel, but sometimes gut.
Scale Length:
Tahitian Ukulele / Tahitian Banjo
- See Ukulele, Tahitian
Taishigoto
- See Akkordiola
Tambura
Alternative names: Tamboura
Origin: Bulgaria
Tuning: D3 D3, G3 G3, B3 B3, E4 E4
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: The Bulgarian variant. has 4 double courses. The Macedonian variant has 2. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 610mm
Tambura, Macedonian
Alternative names: Tamboura
Origin: Macedonia.
Tuning: DD, AA
Strings/Courses: 4/2
Further notes: The Bulgarian variant. has 4 double courses. The Macedonian variant has 2. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 610mm
Tampura (Indian)
- Not included on this website because the strings are only ever played open!
Tanbur (Turkish)
Alternative names: Tambur
Origin: Turkey, 17th century.
Tuning: D2 D3, A2 A2, D3 D3.
Strings/Courses: 6/3, 9/3, 9/5 or 8/4.
Further notes:
Scale Length: 1000-1100mm
Tanbur (Afghan)
Alternative names:
Origin: Afghanistan and eastern Iran.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses:
Further notes:
Scale Length: 900-1050mm
Tar
Alternative names:
Origin: Iran, 18th century.
Tuning: C3 C4, G3, C4 C4
Strings/Courses: 5/3
Further notes:
Scale Length: 650-670mm
Tar, Azeri
Alternative names: Caucasus Tar
Origin: Azerbaijan, about 1870. Developed from the Iranian version above.
Tuning: C4 C4, C5 C5, G2, C3 C4, G3 G3, C4 C4
Strings/Courses: 11/6
Further notes:
Scale Length: 600mm
Taropatch Ukulele
- See Ukulele, Taropatch
Tarhu
Alternative names:
Origin: Australia, 1984. Inspired by the Turkish Yayli Tanbur.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 5/3
Further notes:
Scale Length:
Taus
Alternative names:
Origin: The Punjab, northern India. Invented by Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru of Sikhism.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses:
Further notes: The name 'Taus' originates from the Persian word for peacock.
Scale Length:
Tembor
Alternative names:
Origin: Uyghur region, Western China.
Tuning: A A, D, G G
Strings/Courses: 5/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 1200-1400mm
Tenor Banjo
- See Banjo, Tenor.
Tenor Guitar
- See Guitar, Tenor.
Thumbi
Alternative names: Tumbi, Toombi,
Origin: Punjab, India.
Tuning: N/A
Strings/Courses: 1/1
Further notes: The string can be nylon or steel.
Scale Length: No standard.
Timple
Alternative names: Timple Canario
Origin: Canary Islands, Spain.
Tuning: G4, C5, E4, A4, D5
Strings/Courses: 5/5
Further notes: Traditional models will only havebetween 5 and 7 frets, but modern ones often have more. Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 360mm
Tiple
Alternative names: Tiple Colombiano
Origin: Colombia, 19th century.
Tuning: D4 D3 D4, G4 G3 G4, B4 B3 B4, E4 E4 E4 or C4 C3 C4, E4 E3 E4, A4 A3 A4, D4 D4 D4
Strings/Courses: 12/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 530mm
Tiple (American)
Alternative names: Martin Tiple, sometimes called a 'Tiple Ukulele' due to the tuning.
Origin: The South American Tiple was altered by the Martin company in the USA in 1919, due to the boom in popularity of the Ukulele at the time. They removed the 3rd strings from the top and bottom courses and tuned it like a Ukulele. This version became popular in the USA and was made by many other companies.
Tuning: A4 A3, D4 D3 D4, F#4 F#3 F#4, B3 B3
Strings/Courses: 10/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 430mm
Tiple de Menorca
Alternative names:
Origin: Menorca, Spain. Related to the Guitarro from mainland Spain.
Tuning: D4, G4, C5, E5, A5.
Strings/Courses: 5/5
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 350-450mm
Tiple Doliente
Alternative names:
Origin: Puerto Rico, 18th century.
Tuning: E3, A3, D4, G4, C5
Strings/Courses: 5/5
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 350-365mm
Tiple Grande De Ponce
Alternative names: Chiquita
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: D4, G4, C5, E5, A5.
Strings/Courses: 5/5
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 530mm
Tiple Requinto
Alternative names: Tiple Colombiano Requinto
Origin: Colombia, 19th century.
Tuning: D4 D4 D4, G4 G4 G4, B4 B4 B4, E4 E4 E4
Strings/Courses: 12/4 or 10/4 (with the top and bottom courses doubled instead of tripled)
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length:
Tiple Requinto Costero
Alternative names: Tiple Requinto De La Costa
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: D4, G4, B4
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 380mm
Tiple Requinto De Montana
Alternative names:
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: D4, G4, B4
Strings/Courses: 3/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 300mm
Tiple Vihuela
Alternative names: Vihuela Tiple, Tiple Viguela, Tiple Biguela.
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: The same as any of the Puerto Rican tiples, but with doubled courses of strings.
Strings/Courses: 10/5
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 350-500mm
Tiplon Con Macho
Alternative names: Tiple Grande
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: G5, D5, G4, B4, E5 or A5, D5, A4, B4, B5.
Strings/Courses: 5/5 or 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 530mm
Topshur
Alternative names: Tobshuur
Origin: Altai region, Siberia, Russia.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes:
Scale Length: 550-600mm
Trembulo
Alternative names:
Origin:
Tuning: B3, E3 E3, A4 A4, D4 D4.
Strings/Courses: Usually 7/4 but sometimes 8/4 or 6/4.
Further notes: Will usually only have between 8 and 10 frets, and they stop at the body join. Nylon strings.
Scale Length: Usually 400-450mm, but sometimes as short as 350mm or as long 500mm.
Tres
Alternative names: Tres Cubano, Cuban Tres, Tresillo
Origin: Cuba.
Tuning: Traditionally G4 G3, C4 C4, E4 E3, but often now A4 A3, D4 D4, F#4 F#3.
Strings/Courses: 6/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 480-650mm
Tres, Puerto Rican
Alternative names:
Origin: Puerto Rico
Tuning: Traditionally G4 G3 G4, C4 C4 C4, E4 E3 E4
Strings/Courses: 9/3
Further notes: Same as the traditionally tuned Cuban Tres, but with 9 strings in 3 triples. Often has a body shape more like the Puerto Rican Cuatro. Steel strings.
Scale Length:
Tricordia
Alternative names: Trichordia, Tricordio
Origin: Mexico, evolving from the Mandolin.
Tuning: G3 G3 G3, D4 D4 D4, A4 A4 A4, E5 E5 E5.
Strings/Courses: 12/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 330-350mm
Tzouras
Alternative names: Djura
Origin: Greece.
Tuning: D3 D4, A3 A3, D4 D4
Strings/Courses: 6/3
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 600mm
Tungana
Alternative names: Tungna
Origin: Nepal and Bhutan.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes:
Scale Length: 400-550mm