Get your T A B L A started

[ Instructor ] [ Contact ] [ PDA version ] [ Terminology ] Our Mighty Target The aim of this page is to let you get started playing tabla as soon as possible with minimum knowledge. If you need more information about the table history, constructions, repairing, purchasing or guru, pls go to http://drumbum.com/lessons/index.htm#TABLA. System Requirements All movies are in MPEG4 Quicktime format. You need to have Quicktime 6 Player installed. You can go to www.quicktime.com to download a copy for installation. Very brief Tabla is an traditional classic percussion instrument from India. Tabla was introduced to different parts of India, Nepal, and Pakistan. There are different naming and playing styles in different regions (even within India). In this page, all terminologies and styles are in Punjabi tradition.
Tabla Tabla is in a set of DuGgi (bass low) and ChaThu (high pitch). Heads are made up of sheep skins while the tightenings are made up of camel skins. Both of their drum head are divided into 3 regions for playing, they are CENTRE, MIDDLE and COLLAR.
Let's Play Sit relax on the floor with yor legs cross. If you are a right-handed player, put the DuGgi on your left Horizontaly. Then put the ChaThu on your right with the head slightly facing outside. If you are left-handed player, you just do the same thing vice versa. The two drums should be placed closely togather with no separation, then pull the whole set towards yourself.
There are 7 simple strokes. On the right: TA , TIN , TI , T , DHIN. On the left: GE , KE.
TA: / (front) 3rd finger rest on MIDDLE, hit the COLLAR with the 1st segment of your 1st finger. Force is driven from your arm. Your should hit and lift your hand up to bring the sound out off the drumhead. When played as pattern, it is also called as "NA".
TIN: Everything is the same as TA, but hit the MIDDLE instead of the COLLAR.
TI: Flatten your hand, then slap the CENTRE with the 1st segment of your 2nd and 3rd fingers. After hitting, rest and press on the CENTRE. The other parts of the hand will not touch the drum.
T: Similar to TI, but this time use the 1st segment of your 1st finger to hit the CENTRE. The other fingers wave up a little bit. After hitting, rest and press on the CENTRE. The other parts of the hand will not touch the drum.
DHEE: Flatten your hand, put your fingers togather. Slap the rim of the drum with the front part of your palm. the finger will slightly hit the centre automatically.
TU: Hit the edge of the CENTER with your 1st finger only without any other fingers touching the surface. You will create a high-pitch open sound.
GE: / push / push & pull / close & open / DhinDa practice rest the left wrist behind the CENTRE, fold the hand as arch, grab the MIDDLE in front of the CENTRE with your 2nd+3rd fingers togather OR with your 1st finger. Do it alternatively like cycling.
KE: Rest the left wrist behind the CENTRE, open the hand and fingers widely. Slap tehwhole hand on the drumhead and rest on it.
Combination strokes Doing the simple strokes at the same to form combination strokes. The sound volume from both drums should be the same.
DA = TA + GE
DHIN= TIN + GE
Pratice \|\|: Da Tin Ta Dhin :\|\|
KEHRVA (8 counts) TAAL (beats) Ver 1. / faster \|\|: Da Ge Na Tin \| Na Ke Dhin Na :\|\| Ver 2. \|\|: Da Ti-T Tin Tin \| Ta Ti-T Dhin Dhin :\|\| Ver 3. \|\|: Da Dhin Da Dhin \| Da Tin TaTa TiT :\|\| Ver. 4 \|\|: Da Dhin NaG TiT \| Ta Tin NaG TiT :\|\| Ver. 5 ( Di = mute Dhin ) \|\|: DaGe NaDi NaK NaNa \| TaGe NaDi NaK NaNa :\|\| Ver. 6 \|\|: Da Tin TaK Dhin :\|\|\| Ver. 7 ( N = a very soft touch of Ti , press on Ge ) \|\|: Da Ti T Ge \| Na Tin - N \| Ta Ti T Ge \| Na Dhin - N :\|\| Ver. 8 \|\|: TiR KiT Ta Dhin - Dhin Na Ke :\|\| Ver. 9 ( press on Di ) \|\|: Di Na Da Ge Na Di Na K \| Ti Na Da Ge Na Di Na K :\|\| Ver. 10 \|\|: TiR KiT Ta Dhin \| - Dhin Na K :\|\| Ver. 11 \|\|: Da TiR KiT Dhin \| Na Dhin - N \| \| Ta TiR KiT Dhin \| Na Dhin - N :\|\| Ver. 12 Light and soft \|\|: Dhi-- NaDhi --N \| NaNa NaNa :\|\|
Bridge between different styles Style 1 ( flam KRa = K + Ti ) \|\|: KRa - N KRa \| - N KRa - :\|\| Style 2 \|\|: TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da TiR KiT :\|\|
DADRA (6 counts) TAAL Ver. 1 \|\|: Da Dhin Na \| Da Tin Na :\|\| Ver. 2 \|\|: Da Tin Tin \| TaK Dhin Dhin :\|\| Ver. 3 (press on every Ge) \|\|: DaGe DaGe DaGe \| DaGe TinNa TiRKiT :\|\| Ver. 4 \|\|: Da Da Tin \| Ta Da Tin :\|\| Ver. 5 ( Di = Ge + T ) \|\|: Da TiT TiT \| Ta DiT TiT :\|\| Ver. 6 (Bridge) \|\|: Da TiR KiT\| TaK Ta - :\|\| Ver. 7 ( Du = Tu + Ge) \|\|: Da TiT DaGe\| NaGe TuNa GeNa \| \| Ta TiT DaGe \| NaGe DuNa GeNa :\|\| Ver. 8 \|\|: Da GiRNaG TiRKiT \| Ta GiRNaG TiRKiT :\|\| Ver. 9 (Closing) (Du = Tu + Ge) \|\|: DaGe TiRKiT DuNa \| GeNa Da TiRKiT \| \| DuNa GeNa Da \| TiRKiT DuNa GeNa :\|\|
RUPAK (7 counts) TAAL Ver. 1 \|\|: Tin Tin Na \| Dhin Na \| Dhin Na :\|\| Ver.2 \|\|: Tin Tin NaNa \| Dhin NaNa \| Dhin NaNa :\|\| Ver. 3 \|\|: Tin Tin NaNa \| DhinDhin NaNa \| DhinDhin NaNa :\|\| Ver. 4 \|\|: Tin Tin Na \| TiRKiT DaTiR \| KiTDa TiRKiT :\|\|
EK TAAL (12 counts) \|\|: Dhin Dhin \| DaGe TiRKiT \| Tu Na \| Ka Ta \| DaGe TiRKiT \| Dhin Na :\|\| Tihai verion 1 (closing) \|\|: Ke DaGe \| NaDa TiRKiT \| Da DaGe \| NaDa TiRKiT \| Da DaGe \| NaDa TiRKiT :\|\| Tihai verion 2 (closing) \|\|: Ke TiRKiT \| TakTa TiRKiT \| Da TiRKiT \| TakTa TiRKiT \| Da TiRKiT \| TakTa TiRKiT :\|\|
TAAL DEEP CHANDI (14 counts) / also called CHANCHER or CHANCHAL \|\|: Da Dhin - \| Da Ge Tin - \| Ta Tin - \| Da Ge Dhin - :\|\|
TEEN (16 counts) TAAL Ver 1. \|\|: Da Dhin Dhin Da \| Da Dhin Dhin Da \| Da Tin Tin Ta \| Ta Dhin Dhin Da :\|\| Ver 2. \|\|: Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| Ta Ta Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 3. \|\|: Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ti T \| Ta Ta Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 4. \|\|: Da Da Da Da \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ta Ta \| Ta Ta Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 5. \|\|: Da Da Da Ti \| T Da Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ta Ti \| T Ta Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 6. \|\|: Da Ti T Ti \| T Da Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ti T Ti \| T Ta Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 7. \|\|: Da Da Ti T \| Ti T Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ti T \| Ti T Ti T \| Da Da Ti T \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 8. \|\|: Da GeNa TuNa Ke \| Ke TiRKiT TaKTa TiRKiT \| \| Da TiRKiT TaKTa TiRKiT \| Da TiRKiT TaKTa TiRKiT :\|\| Ver 9. (De = Ti + Ge) \|\|: Da Da Dhin Dhin \| Na Na TiT TiT \| \| KeTiR KiTDe TiT KeT \| Da KeT Da KeT \| \| Da DaTiT KeT \| Da KeT Da KeT \| \| Da DaTiT KeT \| Da KeT Da KeT :\|\| Tihai (closing) \|\|: Ti T Da Ti \| T Da Ti T \| Da - - - \| Ti T Da Ti \| \| T Da Ti T \| Da - - - \| Ti T Da Ti \| T Da Ti T :\|\|
Quida (Rule of) Ti Ver 1. \|\|: Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na \| Ta Ta TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 2. \|\|: Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta TiR KiT \| Ta Ta TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 3. \|\|: Da Da Da Da \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ta Ta \| Ta Ta TiR KiT\| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 4. \|\|: Da Da Da TiR \|KiT Da TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Ta Ta TiR \| KiT Ta TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 5. \|\|: TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na \| \| TiR KiT Ta TiR \| KiT Ta TiR KiT \| Da Da TiR KiT \| Da Da Tu Na :\|\| Ver 6. \|\|: Da Tu Na Da \| TiR KiT Tu Na \| TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da Tu Na \| \| Ta Tu Na Ta \| TiR KiT Tu Na \| TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da Tu Na :\|\| Tihai (closing) \|\|: TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da TiR KiT \| Da - - - \| TiR KiT Da TiR \| \| KiT Da TiR KiT \| Da - - - \| TiR KiT Da TiR \| KiT Da TiR KiT :\|\|
Quida (Rule of) GiR NaG (press on every Gi or 4th G) Ver 1. \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| GiR NaG Dhu Na :\|\| Ver 2. \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Dhu Na :\|\| Ver 3. \|\|: GiR NaG GiR NaG \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| KiR NaG KiR NaG \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Dhu Na :\|\| Ver 4. \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| Da TiT Da TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| Ta TiT Ta TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Dhu Na :\|\| Ver 5. \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| Da Da Da TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| KiR NaG Ta TiT \| Ta Ta Ta TiT \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Dhu Na :\|\| Tihai (Closing 1) \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| \| Da - - - \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da - - - \| \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da :\|\| Tihai (Closing 2) \|\|: GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da - GiR NaG \| Tu Na Da - \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da - GiR NaG \| Da TiT GiR NaG \| Tu Na Da - \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da - GiR NaG \| Tu Na Da - \| GiR NaG Da TiT \| GiR NaG Tu Na \| Da - GiR NaG \| Tu Na Da - \| GiR NaG Tu Na :\|\|
Quida (Rule of) KiT TaK Ver 1. \|\|: Da TiR KiT TaK \| Tu Na KiT TaK \| Ta TiR KiT TaK \| Dhu Na KiT TaK :\|\| Ver 2. \|\|: Da TiR KiT TaK \| Da TiR KiT TaK \| \| Da TiR KiT TaK \| Tu Na KiT TaK \| \| Ta TiR KiT TaK \| Ta TiR KiT TaK \| \| Da TiR KiT TaK \| Dhu Na KiT TaK :\|\| Ver 3. \|\|: Da KiR TaK Da \| Da Da KiR TaK \| \| Da TiR KiT TaK \| Tu Na KiT TaK \| \| Ta KiR TaK Ta \| Ta Ta KiR TaK \| \| Da TiR KiT TaK \| Dhu Na KiT TaK :\|\| Ver 4. \|\|: Da TiR KiT TaK \| Dhu Na KiT TaK \| \| Dhu Na Dhu Na \| Dhu Na KiT TaK \| \| Ta TiR KiT TaK \| Tu Na KiT TaK \| \| Dhu Na Dhu Na \| Dhu Na KiT TaK :\|\|
Terminology Quida (pronounced as "Q - Da") = rule DaDra = 3 counts Rupak (pronounces as "Rule Park") = 7 counts Kehrva = 8 counts Ek (pronounces as "Egg") = 12 counts Deep Chandi = 14 counts Teen = 16 counts Taal = beats Palta (pronounces as "Pa-Ta") = variety Tihai (pronounces as "T-Hi") = closing
Special Tricks Duggi (bass) Hammer
Instructor and demonstration / Mr. Sharanjit Signh Here is his wonderful solo.
More Solo Mr. Tegbir Signh
ChumTe It function like a tamborine or hi-hat. Control with 2 hands.
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