Doshpuluur

Overview

The doshpuluur is a long-necked plucked lute of the Tuvan people of southern Siberia. It has a small triangular or trapezoidal wooden body — traditionally with a leather or wooden soundboard — and a long fretless neck. With either two or three strings, it is widely used to accompany solo singing, including Tuva’s celebrated khoomei (throat singing) tradition.

Origin & History

The doshpuluur belongs to the family of long-necked plucked lutes of the Inner Asian steppe, which includes the Mongolian tovshuur, the Kazakh dombra, the Kyrgyz komuz, and many others. These instruments share a common idea — a small body and a long fretless neck for fluid melodic playing — adapted in each culture to local taste, materials, and singing traditions.

In Tuva, the doshpuluur has long been one of the standard instruments used to accompany song and to play instrumental pieces tied to the herding life of the steppe. In the late twentieth century the international rise of Tuvan throat singing brought the doshpuluur, alongside the igil and the byzaanchy, to a much wider global audience.

How It’s Played

The doshpuluur is built around a small wooden body — typically triangular or trapezoidal in outline, sometimes covered with leather, sometimes with a wooden soundboard — and a long, slender, fretless neck. Two- and three-string versions both exist; modern instruments often have three strings, frequently tuned to support a melody-and-drone texture.

The player rests the instrument across the lap or holds it like a guitar, plucking the strings with the right-hand fingers and stopping them against the fretless neck with the left. The absence of frets allows the smooth slides and microtonal inflections characteristic of Tuvan melody. Players can pick out melodies on a single string while letting another string sound an open drone, mirroring the drone-and-overtone structure of throat singing.

In Tuvan ensemble music the doshpuluur often joins the bowed igil, the byzaanchy, and percussion to accompany singers, including throat-singing soloists.

Cultural Significance

The doshpuluur is closely tied to the everyday musical life of Tuvan herders, and to the song traditions of the steppe and mountain valleys. Its sound, with its open drones and sliding lines, mirrors the sonic ideals of much Tuvan music, in which a single voice or instrument is felt to contain layers of pitch and timbre.

Internationally the instrument has become familiar through groups such as Huun-Huur-Tu, Yat-Kha, and Alash Ensemble, who have toured and recorded extensively since the 1990s and brought Tuvan music to audiences across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Related Instruments

• Igil – the Tuvan two-string bowed lute
• Tovshuur – the Mongolian two-string plucked lute
• Komuz – the Kyrgyz three-string fretless lute
• Khomus (jaw harp) – the Tuvan and Sakha jaw harp
• Yatga – the Mongolian long zither

Where to Hear It

Recordings by Huun-Huur-Tu (The Orphan’s Lament, 60 Horses in My Herd), Yat-Kha, and Alash Ensemble feature the doshpuluur prominently, often alongside other Tuvan instruments and throat singers. Field recordings on Smithsonian Folkways and similar archives capture its traditional context in Tuvan song.

• Wikipedia: Doshpuluur
• Wikidata: Q5299280

Learning Resources

The doshpuluur is taught in Tuva at the Kyzyl College of Arts and at private studios led by master players. Outside Tuva, learning resources are limited; students typically work with visiting Tuvan teachers, attend international workshops, or rely on online video lessons. Several leading Tuvan ensembles offer occasional masterclasses on tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the doshpuluur have two or three strings?
Both two- and three-string versions exist. Three-string instruments are common today; two-string versions remain in use as well.

Is the doshpuluur related to the Mongolian tovshuur?
Yes. Both belong to the family of long-necked fretless plucked lutes of the Inner Asian steppe and share a common heritage.

Is it used to accompany throat singing?
Yes. Along with the igil and other Tuvan instruments, the doshpuluur is one of the standard accompaniments for khoomei and related throat-singing styles.

What is the body made of?
A small wooden frame, traditionally covered with a leather membrane or with a wooden soundboard. Modern instruments often use wood throughout.