Instruments

We have several systems of tamburitzas, which differ in how many different sounds empty strings are tuned (arranged) for.

Dual-note fifths system – Farkaš’s System

Tamburitzas of the dual-note system are the oldest type of tamburitza. They typically have four strings grouped in pairs, or pairs of notes in intervals of fifths (g-d, on some c-g). The single note bisernica and first viola (“farkaš tamburitza”) were also placed in this system, in which all four strings were tuned to the same d note. Today this type of orchestra still exists with such single-note tamburitzas, although the majority are also tuned to be dual-note.

Triple-note fifths system – Janković’s System

This has tamburitzas with 6 strings, tuned in pairs at intervals of fifths g-d-a (some have c-g-d). This system is called Janković’s system. This system is mostly used in Croatia (Zagorje, Medjimurje, etc.).

Four-note system – Srem system (Srijem system)

This has tamburitzas with strings tuned to four different tones at quarter intervals. Those are so-called “Srem” tamburitzas. They normally have 5 or 6 strings, of which only the two highest are dually tuned, while the other strings are tuned singly. The system originated in Bačka and in Srem (Srijem) at the beginning of the last century and has its roots in the three-note fourths system. With all of these systems both pear-shaped and guitar-shaped tamburitzas are present, while in the Srem system a violin-shaped tamburitza bass (begeš) is also present.