This instrument might only have a single string and three notes, but its sound is recognizable in nearly all modern Punjabi music. There are numerous Punjabi folk singers who compose entire songs with the tumbi and often perform without the aid of any other instrument. From folk music to today’s Punjabi music to reggae fusion and American hip hop, the tumbi has carved an indelible niche in classical and world music. The standard tumbi is red in color with a wooden base, affordable yet expressive.