String (bowed)
Taus
ਤਾਊਸ
Guru Hargobind Sahib ji
History
Designed by Guru Hargobind Sahib ji in the early 1600s, the taus (Persian for 'peacock') was carved in the form of a peacock to honour the bird whose call inspired its tone. It was meant to give kirtanis a sustained, vocal-like instrument capable of expressing slow alap and meend. The taus became central to dhrupad-style Gurbani gayan and is still played today, especially by the AKJ and Gurmat Sangeet revival lineages.
Literally meaning 'peacock' in Persian, the taus is a large bowed instrument shaped like a peacock, designed by Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. Its long neck holds many sympathetic strings that give it a soft, glassy, sustained tone perfectly suited to slow, devotional raag exposition.
Tuning & playing guide
Four main steel playing strings, the highest tuned to Sa, with around fifteen to twenty sympathetic strings tuned to the swaras of the raag. The instrument is rested on the floor in front of the seated player. Use a horsehair bow with light rosin; long, even strokes draw out the taus's signature glassy sustain.
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The taus is heavy and easy to knock — always rest it upright against a wall or in its case, never flat on the strings. Keep humidity between roughly 40–55%; dryness cracks the wood, dampness rusts the many sympathetic strings. Tune the sympathetic strings every few weeks and replace rusted ones promptly. Loosen the bow hair after use and re-rosin lightly before each session.