Tabla (hindustani, percussion instrument)

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Tabla is the overall term for two drums, which are played as accompaniment to North Indian music and dance. The musician uses the base of the palm as well as the fingers to produce great variations in sounds. The right hand drum is tuned to the tonic dominant or sub-dominant and the left-hand drum acts as the base.

It is perhaps the most versatile of all percussion instruments. It is the most used instrument in any form of indian music, except carnatic classical and Dhrupad.

Tabla is relatively a new instrument, a couple of centuries old. According to folklore Amir Khusro invented the instrument, but this is not supported by literature. The oldest of the tabla traditions is the Delhi gharana founded in 18th century. Now there are six well known gharanas.

Gharanas

Major Tabla Gharanas in alphabetical order

• Ajrara
  
  
• Benares
  
  
• Delhi
  
  
• Farukhabad
  
  
• Lucknow
  
  
• Punjab