Tabla

The tabla (Hindi: तबला, Bengali: তবলা, Urdu: طبلہ}, tablā from Arabic: طبل، طبلة, tabl, tabla) is an drum used in South Asian music. It is used for classical, popular and devotional music of Pakistan. The instrument is two hand drums of different size and shape, similar to bongos. They make different sounds. The drums are treble and bass drum.

Tabla drums demo (file from Commons Media of the Day)

Tabla is played hitting the fingers on the drum head and sliding the palm to create a modulating sound. A lot of sounds can be created from the tabla by changing how you use your hands.

The tabla originated from the a more ancient cylindrical drum called the Pakhawaj.

Zakir Hussain is a notable tabla player. There are different Gharanas or houses of tabla. Zakir Hussain's style is of the Punjab Gharana.

Another notable tabla player is Ibrahim Ibrahimi, form Afghanistan.

Tabla images

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  Professional tabla from Pakrashi.
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  200 BC carvings from Bhaje caves, Maharashtra, India showing a woman playing Tabla and another dancer performing.
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  Ustad Zakir Hussain performing at Konark, Odisha