ARTICLES

TABLA – AN OVERVIEW OF THE INSTRUMENT

P.S.: Read the Capital letters as an extended syllable in the word. (SyAhi = Syaahi).

Synonyms for Tabla : DAyA BAyA (DAhinA BAyA).

The Tabla Set actually comprises of two drums - the smaller, right hand drum called the DAhinA or TablA, and the larger, left hand drum called the Duggi.

Principles parts of Tabla:

A typical TablA set consists of a TablA and a Duggi.



• Parts of Duggi(Big drum): 
                     - Made of STEEL or BRASS often with NICKEL Plating.

1. MaidAn
2. SyAhi (GAb, Ankh)
3. GajrA (Indi)
4. Pudi (Muchige)
5. BArs.
6. GattA.
7. Gudari
8. Simbi

• Parts of the TablA (Smaller drum)

                       - Made of ShEsham Wood.

1. SyAhi (GAb, Ankh)
2. Lava.
3. KinArA (ChAti).
4. Pudi (Muchige)
5. GajrA (Indi).
6. BArs.
7. GattA.
8. Gudari.
9. Simbi
   

Composition of the principal parts of TablA set:

SyAhi (GAb, Ankh) :- 
         Shai Massala with burnt iron filings made into a paste     along with a particular tree's gum and a plant extract in the right proportion. This is then rounded over the surface to get the chakravyuha. Thicker is the layer of syAhi on the tabla, Lower (Less Sharper) is the pitch of that instrument. 

Lava, KinAra, MaidAn -
        All made of Goat / Sheep Skin. Sometimes made of Deer skin too.

BArs, Gudari, GajrA -
        All made of the same skin as the Lava, KinAra and MaidAn.
GattA - 
        Made of Small cylindrical wood pieces. Mainly used for coarse tuning the instrument.

Usage of TablA Powder:
       Made out of Sanjeergi stone. There are mainly two reasons why the tablA powder needs to be used:

1. To drive away the sweat from the players hands while playing, which would otherwise damage the instrument surface.
2. To enable soft and quick rendition of the tablA's bols due to limited friction.

 

How to select a good tablA set?
          The quality of a good tablA set is determined from the following 3 points:
               1. Considerable weight of both TablA and Duggi.
               2. A good pudi which produces a long sustaining NAd when struck on the Lava / MaidAn.
3. A close observation on the Syahi on its work.
Protection / Maintenance of TablA set
Follow the steps listed below to help increase the longevity and Tone quality of TablA set:
1. To avoid heat, moisture or any climatic effects on the Pudi, always cover its top by the round cushions provided.
2. During winter, add an additional layer of cushion/shawl over the tabla set so that the cold climate does not come in contact with your instrument.
3. During Summer, completely lower the Duggi sound and preferably place the Duggi upside down on the simbi inside the TablA bag.
4. Take enough care to ensure that your instrument is away from rats, cockroaches and other insects.
5. Ensure that no hot food, drinks etc., come in contact with your instrument.

COMPARISION OF WESTERN SWARA NOTATION WITH INDIAN:

SA – DO
RE – RE
GA - MI
PA – FA
DHA – SO
NI – LA
SA – DO

SOUNDS IN TABLA

• Resonant Sounds :
       1. TablA: Na, Tha, Thin.
       2. Duggi: Ge, Ga, Gi.
• Non- Resonant Sounds :
       1. TablA: Thiti, ThiRa,
       2. Duggi: Ki, Ke, Ka, Kath.
• Combination Sounds
       1. Dha = Ge + Na.
       2. Dhin = Ge + Thin.
       3. Dhi Ra = Ge + Thi Ra.