Taus

Taus is a bowed instrument associated with North Indian and Sikh devotional traditions, named for its peacock-like form. In Indian music, raag and taal remain central, and the taus supports sustained melodic expression with a warm, enveloping tone that suits sacred and lyrical settings. It is culturally significant where it accompanies devotional practice and traditional ensembles.

It is built with a large resonant body shaped like a peacock, a skin soundboard, a fretted neck, main bowed strings, and sympathetic strings that add shimmer. The player bows with the right hand while the left hand works the strings against frets, allowing stable intonation with expressive slides. It can be used as a solo voice or in accompaniment depending on context, and what makes it unique is its distinctive resonance and visual identity, producing a broad warmth different from the more compact sweetness of dilruba.