This article is about a musical instrument. For the Egyptian tablah, see goblet drum.

For the
Singaporean newspaper, see tabla!

Percussion instrument

Classification Indian percussion instrument, goatskin heads

with syahi

Playing range

Bolt tuned or rope tuned with dowels and hammer

Related instruments

Pakhavaj, mridangam, khol, dholak, nagara, madal, tbilat

The tabla[nb 1] is a membranophone percussion instrument originating from the Indian

subcontinent, consisting of a pair of drums, used in traditional, classical, popular and folk
music.[1] It has been a particularly important instrument in Hindustani classical musicsince the
18th century, and remains in use in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri
Lanka.[2] The name tablalikely comes from tabl, the Persian and Arabic word for
drum.[3] However, the ultimate origin of the musical instrument is contested by scholars, some
tracing it to West Asia, others tracing it to the evolution of indigenous musical instruments of
the Indian subcontinent.[4]
The tabla consists of two single headed, barrel shaped small drums of slightly different size
and shapes: daya also called dahinameaning right (also called "tabla"), and baya also
called bahina meaning left (also called "dagga").[2][5] The daya tabla is played by the musician's
right hand (dominant hand), and is about 15 centimetres (~6 in) in diameter and 25 centimetres
(~10 in) high. The baya tabla is a bit bigger and deep kettledrum shaped, about 20 centimetres
(~8 in) in diameter and 25 centimetres (~10 in) in height. Each is made of hollowed out wood or
clay or brass, the daya drum laced with hoops, thongs and wooden dowels on its sides. The
dowels and hoops are used to tighten the tension of the membrane. The daya is tuned to the
ground note of the raga called Sa (tonicin India music).[2][6] The baya construction and tuning is
about a fifth to an octave below that of the daya drum. The musician uses his hand's heel
pressure to change the pitch and tone colour of each drum during a performance.[2][6]

A demo of Tabla playing

The playing technique is complex and involves extensive use of the fingers and palms in
various configurations to create a wide variety of different sounds and rhythms, reflected in
mnemonic syllables (bol). In the Hindustani style tabla is played in two ways: band
bol and khula bol. In the sense of classical music it is termed "tali" and "khali". It is one of the
main qawali instrument used by Sufi musicians of Bangladesh, Pakistan and
India.[7] The tabla is also an important instrument in the bhakti devotional traditions
of Hinduism and Sikhism, such as during bhajan and kirtan singing.[8][9]