syahi

Syahi, sometimes spelled siyahi, is a black paste applied to the playing surfaces of certain Indian percussion instruments, most notably the tabla. The term comes from words meaning ink or soot in Urdu and Persian. The paste forms a circular, slightly domed patch on the drum head, and is typically present on the tabla’s dayan and bayan heads.

The primary purpose of the syahi is tonal shaping. By adding mass and a unique surface property at the striking area, it dampens some high-frequency overtones and enhances others, contributing to the instrument’s characteristic pitch, timbre, and sustain. The exact density and curvature of the patch influence the fundamental pitch of the drum and the relative tuning between the two drums in a solo tabla set. The syahi also affects the articulation of strokes and the clarity of tonal color when producing bols.

Materially, the syahi is a hand-applied paste traditionally made from soot (lampblack) mixed with glue, plant gum, and other fibrous binders; regional crafts may use different recipes. It is laid down in layers and shaped to achieve the desired thickness and curvature. Over time it wears or changes with tuning and playing, and experienced instrument makers routinely reapply or refresh the patch.

In Hindustani classical music, the syahi is an essential feature of the tabla’s sound and is closely associated with the craft of instrument making. The term is also used for similar patches on other Indian percussion instruments.