Tabla

Tabla drums demo (file from Commons Media of the Day)

The tabla (Hindi: तबला, Bengali: তবলা, Urdu: طبلہcode: ur is deprecated }, tablā from Arabic: طبل، طبلة, tabl, tabla) is an Indian drum used for North Indian Music. The tabla invention is found in India. It is also used for classical, popular and devotional music of Pakistan. The instrument is two hand drums of different size and shape, similar to bongos. They make different sounds. The drums are treble and bass drum.

Tabla is played hitting the fingers on the drum head and sliding the palm to create a modulating sound. A lot of sounds can be created from the tabla by changing how you use your hands.

The tabla originated from the a more ancient cylindrical drum called the Pakhawaj.

Zakir Hussain is a notable tabla player. There are different Gharanas or houses of tabla. Zakir Hussain's style is of the Punjab Gharana.

Another notable tabla player is Ibrahim Ibrahimi, form Afghanistan.

Tabla images

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  Professional tabla from Pakrashi.

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  200 BC carvings from Bhaje caves, Maharashtra, India showing a woman playing Tabla and another dancer performing.

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  Ustad Zakir Hussain performing at Konark, Odisha

Tabla Media

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  Some drums of central India that look like tabla, but they do not have Syahi which creates the unique Tabla sound.

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  Keharwa Tala written in Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande Notation. The bols are written in both Latin and Devanagari. The Matras (beat measure) are specified using numerals. 'X' indicates Sum (first beat) and 'O' serves as an indicator for Khaali.