dhin

Dhin is a tabla bol (rhythmic syllable) used in Hindustani classical music to denote a specific stroke on the tabla’s treble drum. The stroke is produced with the right hand, typically by striking near the center of the drum with the fingers and palm to yield a bright, crisp attack and a short sustain. The articulation and exact timbre can vary with hand position, technique, and the performer’s gharana (school of playing).

In performance, dhin serves as a fundamental building block of the theka—the fixed rhythm pattern that outlines the tala. It appears in many talas and can be played as a standalone stroke or as part of sequences alongside other bols such as tin, ta, or ke, depending on the composition.

The syllable dhin is a phonetic representation of the stroke’s sound and does not denote a pitch or instrument beyond its rhythmic function. While most closely associated with tabla technique, bol syllables are used across Indian rhythmic practice and can vary in articulation between performers and schools.