Unseen: Climate change is altering Tanpura’s resonance

Indian classical music rests on the timeless drone of the Tanpura — a continuous, meditative soundscape that anchors every melodic improvisation. This long-necked string instrument, with its four resonating strings, has shaped the sound of Indian music for centuries. Yet few listeners realise that the Tanpura itself is quietly changing. Climate change is beginning to alter its voice. Recent research suggests that rising temperatures, shifting monsoon patterns, the shrinking size of the gourds used to make Tanpuras, and wider ecological disruption are subtly but fundamentally changing the acoustic character of this iconic instrument. Climate change is, thus, impacting the music world too. How? Read on.