- published: 23 Dec 2009
- views: 115760
The Tumbi or Toombi (Punjabi: ਤੂੰਬੀ, Pronunciation: tūmbī) is an ancient traditional North Indian musical instrument from Punjab. The tumbi was popularized by the renowned folk-singer of Punjab "Lal Chand Yamla Jatt". In the 1960s, 70s and 80s most of the Punjabi singers used the Tumbi. The most popular were Kuldeep Manak, Mohammed Sadiq, Didar Sandhu, Amar Singh Chamkila and Kartar Ramla.
The high pitched, single string plucking instrument is associated with folk music of Punjab and presently very popular in Western Bhangra music.
The instrument is made of a wooden stick mounted with a toomba or wooden resonator covered with skin. A metallic string is passed on a resonator over a bridge and tied to the key at the end of the stick. The string is struck with the continuous flick and retraction of the forefinger.
Get your freak on by Timbaland and Missy Elliott saw the introduction of the distinct tumbi sound into the popular mainstream music scene.
Mundian Ton Bach Ke Rahin (Beware of Boys) from Panjabi MC, a huge hit in the UK charts, is perhaps the most widely-known example of the use of tumbi in popular western music.