At Shanti Mandir tabla is taught in the Ajarada style by tabla master Nikhil Bhavsar.
The tabla video demonstrations are performed by Sandeep Bijalwan.
The Contents of this page are listed below, so you can choose to just scroll down the page, or click on one of the links to go directly to the selected section.
GO TO PARTS OF THE TABLA
GO TO PLACEMENT, POSTURE & TUNING
GO TO RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED?
PARTS OF THE TABLA
PLACEMENT
Drum placement is very important for creating the best sound and physical comfort. Placing the drum on the chutta (cushion ring) allows the sound to resonate and helps keep it in place. The bāyāñ (bass drum) should be on the left and the wooden dāyāñ should be on the right, if you are right handed. The pudi (drum head) of the wooden dāyāñ should be tilted away, this allows the wrist to be held in a straight position when playing. The pudi (drum head) of the bāyāñ should face straight up to the ceiling or tilted very slightly away with the syahi (black spot) in a 1 o’clock orientation.
POSTURE
Sitting position and playing posture are important to prevent strain and fatigue and to ensure your efforts create the best sound. Sitting in a cross legged position with both drums in contact with the knees allows for better control of the drums which can move during playing. In addition to this, by having the drums as close as possible to the body the posture can be held upright avoiding back strain. Holding the wrists in a straight position is important to prevent injury so titling the dāyāñ away from the body is necessary.
TUNING
Instruction to be added here.
RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED?
The instruction given here is for right handed players, that means the small drum (dāyāñ) of the tabla is played with the right hand. Left handed people usually swap the drums so that the dāyāñ is played with the left hand, if you do this simply reverse the instructions provided.
