The tumbi, or toombi, is a traditional North Indian folk instrument from Punjab. It is sometimes called 'ektara' meaning 'one stringed'. The instrument is made from a small piece of round hard wood, hollowed out, and covered with a thin animal skin usually glued around the edge.The neck is a simple, rounded stick. One metal string is fastened to a large tuning peg from the front and serves as tuning head. The string runs over a large loose bridge on the centre of the skin to the end of the stick. The tumbi is played by holding it horizontally and strumming the string and can be played with two hands. Today it is popular in Western 'bhangra' music.
