Tabla

The tabla is a pair of hand drums used in Hindustani classical music. The set comprises a smaller treble drum called the dayan and a larger bass drum called the bayan. It is played with the hands while the musician sits on the floor, often accompanying vocalists or other instrumentalists, or performing solo.

Construction and tuning: The dayan is typically made of wood and features a black patch on the drumhead known as the syahi, which helps shape its timbre. The bayan is usually made of metal or clay and has a larger head. Both drums use natural skins and are tuned to specific pitches, with the dayan pitched higher than the bayan. Tension is adjusted with traditional cords or modern hardware. The timbre and pitch can be modified by the striking technique, hand position, and damping.

Playing technique and repertoire: The tabla is played with the hands and fingers, producing strokes called bols. Common syllables include dha, dhin, ta, na, and tin. Players render rhythmic cycles called tal or taal, such as Teentaal (16 beats) and Jhaptal (10 beats). The bols form a rhythmic language used in improvisation and in accompaniment to vocal or instrumental performances. The instrument is frequently used with tanpura or drone, and it appears in classical, film, and fusion contexts.

Gharanas and notable players: The tabla has several lineages, or gharanas, including Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, and Punjab. Prominent performers include Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Alla Rakha, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Pandit Samta Prasad, and Pt. Anindo Chatterjee. The instrument also features in contemporary world music and cross-cultural collaborations.

History and contemporary role: The tabla emerged in northern India in the 18th century, developing from earlier drums such as the pakhawaj. It gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries as a principal accompanying instrument in Hindustani music. Today it is widely taught and performed worldwide.