Tabla Lesson For Beginners

Ustad Zakir Hussain…not a single person who hasn't heard of this legendary Tabla maestro yet. In the world of Indian music, tabla plays an important role. Ever wondered what is it about Tabla that attracts people so much? Ever tried playing tabla? Well here are a few guidelines to get started with learning Tabla.

Basics Of Tabla:

The tabla consists of two small drums which are single-headed, barrel-shaped. They are of slightly different sizes and shapes. The two drums are: daya/ dahina meaning right (also called “tabla”), and baya/ bahina meaning left (also called “dagga”). Each made of hollowed out wood or clay or brass. The tabla is played by the musician’s right hand (dominant hand). The daya drum is laced with hoops and wooden dowels on its sides. The dowels and hoops are used to tighten the tension of the membrane. A different tone is created by each of the drums but together they make the distinctive sound we associate with the tabla, a sound that is central to classical Indian music.

How to sit while playing tabla?

Sit cross legged on the ground. This will position your body on the same level as your tabla. The larger drum, on your left, should sit flat, with the top of the drum facing straight up. The face of the smaller drum, on your right, should be facing away from you, at approximately 35 degrees. The placement of both hands should not be stiff. It should be in comfortable position, so that playing tabla is easy.

Basic terms that you need to know:

• Bols: A bol is a mnemonic syllable. It is used in Indian music to define the taal, or rhythmic pattern. Bol is derived from the Hindi word bolna, which means “to speak.”
• Taals: Taals form the root of all the compositions played on the tabla.
• Kaydas: Kayda is a set of bols which are fixed.

Lets learn about the basic bols on Tabla.

Broadly, bols are of two types: 1) Single handed bols 2)Two handed bols. 

1) Single handed bols: These bols require the use of only one hand. Meaning that these are played only on the Daya or the Baya.

Daya Bols:

1. TA/NA (ता / ना): With the middle finger raised, keep your ring finger at the Maidan. Now keeping the ring finger as a firm pivot, and keeping the middle finger in the air, hit the edge of the chanti with your index finger. This should produce a high pitched bol, ta

2. TE (ते): Hit the syahi with your middle finger or (more popularly) middle finger+ring finger together.

3. TETE (तेटे): Start with the bol Te, and immediately raise both middle finger and ring finger, while hitting the centre of syahi with your index finger. 

4. TIN (तिन): With the middle finger raised, keep your ring finger at the Maidan. Now proceed exactly as in the case of Ta, but instead of hitting the chanti, hit the maidan with your index finger. 

Baya Bols:

1. KE/KI (के/की) : Rest your wrist on the skin of the Baya, just away from the edge of the Syahi. Keep the wrist as the pivot and hit the Syahi with the fingers stretched out. Make sure that the palm and fingers are both hitting the Syahi with a perfectly flat hand.

2. GE (गे): Rest your wrist at the edge of the syahi and in such a way that the fingers stretch out in the direction of the syahi. Now curve the hand in such a way that it arches vertically upwards from the skin and proceed to hit the skin with your middle finger and ring finger (or sometimes your index finger).

2) Two handed Bols: Two handed bols are the ones that require the use of both hands.

1. DHA (धा): This is played by playing both the Ga (on the Baya) and Ta (on the Daya) to produce a loud sound.

2. DHIN (धिन): This is played by playing both the Ga (on the Baya) and Tin (on the Daya).

Compound Bols: Compound bols are the ones that require the use of both hands. They have more than one elements that are played in succession.

1. TIRKIT (तिरकिट): Tirkit is essentially: Tete + Ka + Te in quick succession.

Done!

Now since you know about the basic bols, you are capable enough of playing any taal or kayda. For example, taals like the Tintal (or Trital or Teental), Jhaptal, Dadra etc. 

I hope this blog helped you learn about the basics of Tabla, the different bols and finally the different taals played on a Tabla. As it is rightly said ‘Practice makes a man perfect’, do practice these bols and taals on a Tabla yourself to get a better experience. Thanks for reading!