The tambura; tanpura; tamboura or taanpura or tanipurani is a long-necked plucked lute (a stringed instrument found in different forms and in many places). The body shape of the tambura somewhat resembles that of the sitar; but it has no frets - and the strings are played open.

One or more tamburas may accompany other musicians or vocalists. It has four or five (rarely six) wire strings; which are plucked one after another in a regular pattern to create a harmonic resonance on the basic note (bourdon or drone function). An electronic tanpura is often substituted in contemporary Indian classical music performance.