The North Indian Tabla

The tabla is an Indian percussion instrument consisting of a small high pitched drum called the tabla, and a larger lower pitched drum called the bayan. In North Indian classical music, the tabla is used to control the Tala, or rhythmic cycle of the performance. The tabla is played by striking the head of the drum with the fingers, and using the meat of the palm to slide against the head and change the pitch of the drum once stuck. Each drum features a starch-based circle of “Tuning Paste” that is used to bring out the fundamental frequency of the drums and give them there unique piecing timbre. The tala is a cycle of rhythms that is underlying in all North Indian traditional music, and the tabla is the instrument that most clearly outlines this cycle. Before being able to play the tabla drums, students must learn syllables from their guru that correspond to different strokes that can be preformed on the drums.

This video is a beginning lesson in the tabla playing techniques. It also goes over the basics of the common tala “Tintal”. 

We can clearly see, at around the 2:16 mark of this video, the importance that the sylables play in the tabla tradition. The performer can express his ideas not only by playing the drums, but also by reciting the syllables while he is playing. 

One of my favorite examples of the tabla, this is Talavya, a tabla ensemble, playing one of their compositions and giving a short lesson on the tabla. 

This video shows the tabla in a more real-world application. 

And, just for fun, one of the many tabla pop covers that can be found on the internet.