Parts of Tabla

 

Let's get started with knowing the parts of the Tabla.

1) Pudi - The Pudi is the head of tabla, the main part of the tabla where strokes are played. This pudi consists of the syahi, maidan, kinaar/chaati, and gajara.

2) Syahi - Syahi is a paste made up of finely ground and sieved powder of charcoal, iron dust and cooked rice. The cooked rice and a little bit of water is added to the mix of charcoal and iron dust powder in proper proportion and then it is mixed till it all gets together and results in a paste. After it is in the form of paste, the syahi is applied to the centre of the head of the Tabla. The syahi plays an important role in tuning the tabla in a range of scales. These Scales varies according to the circumference of tabla wood and the thickness of skin. These scales are C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B varying from low to high pitch.

3) The Maidan and Kinaar/Chaati - The maidan is the space between the gajra and syahi and the kinaar means the outer line of the tabla head (also called as Chaati). Maidan and chaati both are made from goat skin. Expert tabla makers process the skin by hand and makes it premium quality. 

4) Gajara - The Gajara is on the rim of the wood of the tabla woven in the skin. It is made from Camel skin/ Buffalo skin/ Bull skin. It is very thick and is important in tuning the tabla. It is hammered while tuning the tabla.

5) Tasma/ Baadi/ Vaadi - The baadi or Vaadi is made from buffalo skin and is used to hold the Pudi tightly on the wood of the Tabla.

6) Gatta - Gatta are Wooden blocks. They are in cylindrical shape and are used in reducing or increasing the tension on the skin in order to tune the tabla.

7) Chutta/ Gaadi - The Chutta/ Gaadi are cushioned rings on which tabla is placed. There is a metal ring inside the gaadi and on the metal ring, a layer of dry grass is placed. Soft cloth is wrapped on the ring and after that cushioning is wrapped and an attractive piece of cloth (velvet) is wrapped. The size of the Gaadi is standard or it may come in various sizes according to the circumference of Tabla.

8) Wood - Hollow wood of Mango tree, Black Sheesham Wood, Red Sheesham, Khair wood, Babool tree wood, is used for making Tabla. 

9) Metal Drum - Hollow Metal drum is used for making the Dagga. ( left hand drum or right hand drum in case of left handed tabla players) The metals used in making the dagga are Copper, Brass, Stainless Steel. Earlier the daggas were also made from Earthen pots or hollow wood. All the other parts of dagga are same like Tabla. Generally Brass or Copper Daggas are considered as the best ones with a weight of 3.5 kg as standard weight. The Bass of the drum depends on the weight , hollowness and the shape of the metal. 

As the Bass drum ( Dagga ) is round , big and hollow, it produces lower/higher pitch bass and the Tabla being narrow produces high pitch sound (also produces mid range lower pitch sounds according to the shape and size).