🪘 Tabla – The Heartbeat of South Asian Rhythm

 What is Tabla?

The Tabla consists of two hand-played drums:

1. Dayan (Right Drum):

   • Smaller, played with the right hand

   • Made of wood (usually sheesham or teak)

   • Produces higher-pitched tones

   • Has tuning rings and a black spot (called syahi) in the center to control pitch

2. Bayan (Left Drum):

   • Larger, played with the left hand

   • Made of metal (brass, copper, or sometimes clay)

   • Produces deep bass sounds

   • Also has a black center spot

🔸 Key Components

• Syahi:
  Black tuning paste in the center that gives tabla its unique sound

• Gatta (Tuning Blocks):
  Wooden blocks used to adjust the tension of the drumhead

• Pudi (Drumhead):
  The leather surface where the player strikes

• Baddi (Straps):
  Leather straps that tighten and tune the drum

🔸 Playing the Tabla

• Played with fingers and palms in a variety of patterns called "bols"

• Each sound or stroke has a name (like na, ta, dha, tin, tun, ge, etc.)

🔸 Uses of Tabla

• Indian Classical Music (Hindustani)

• Sufi and Qawwali music

• Bhajans, Ghazals, and Bollywood songs

• Modern fusion and world music

🔸 Famous Tabla Players

• Zakir Hussain

• Ustad Alla Rakha

• Pandit Kishan Maharaj

• Anindo Chatterjee