Tabla, pakhawaj and mridangam

Structure, varnas, origin and gharanas.

Performing Arts5 questions
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Tabla

The tabla is a pair of drums. The right-hand drum, dayan (or tabla), is made of wood and is tuned to Sa of the main artist; the left-hand drum, bayan (or duggi), is usually of metal or clay and gives the bass sound. Main parts: pudi (the skin head), syahi (black circle of hardened paste), kinar or chanti (outer rim of skin), maidan or lav (open area between kinar and syahi), gajra (braided ring holding the pudi), baddhi (leather straps) and gatte (wooden blocks under the straps, used for tuning). Varnas: dayan alone gives Ta (Na), Tin, Te, Ra; bayan alone gives Ge (Ghe) and Ka (Ke); combined strokes give Dha (Ta + Ge) and Dhin (Tin + Ge). Origin: popular stories credit Amir Khusrau, but historians generally link the early tabla tradition with Sudhar (Siddhar) Khan of Delhi. Gharanas: Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, Farukhabad, Banaras and Punjab. Delhi and Ajrada style is called band baaj (closed, using fingertips on the kinar); Lucknow, Farukhabad and Banaras are khula baaj (open, resonant, influenced by pakhawaj).

Pakhawaj

A single barrel-shaped wooden drum with two heads. The right head has syahi; on the left (bass) head, wheat dough is applied before playing. It is the traditional accompaniment for dhrupad and dhamar. Its open, forceful bols are the source of the paran. Major traditions include the Nathdwara and Kudau Singh gharanas.

Mridangam

The main percussion instrument of Karnatak music, a double-headed barrel drum usually carved from jackfruit wood. The right head (valanthalai) has a permanent black paste; on the left head (thoppi) a lump of wet semolina paste is applied for bass. Basic syllables (sollukattu) include ta, dhi, thom and nam.

Key points

  • Tabla = dayan + bayan; Dha = Ta + Ge.
  • Band baaj: Delhi, Ajrada; khula baaj: Lucknow, Farukhabad, Banaras.
  • Pakhawaj accompanies dhrupad; wheat dough on bass side.
  • Mridangam: jackfruit wood, Karnatak music.

Common mistakes

  • Saying the bayan is tuned to Sa; the dayan is tuned to the tonic.
  • Placing the Punjab gharana in band baaj by default; learn only the standard grouping above.

Practice questions

Which tabla stroke is produced by playing Ta on the dayan and Ge on the bayan together?Easy
The wooden blocks placed under the leather straps of the tabla and moved to adjust pitch are called:Medium
Which pair of tabla gharanas is known for the "band baaj" (closed style)?Medium
Which drum is the traditional accompaniment of dhrupad and has wheat dough applied to its bass head?Easy
A barrel drum carved from jackfruit wood, with semolina paste applied on the left head, is played in a Karnatak concert…Hard
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