North and Central India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
Indian

Metal, wood, hide
Mid 20th century
Height: 12 in
Membranophones – Struck Membranophones

The tabla is a pair of single-headed, hand played drums of North and Central India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.  They are the principal drums of modern Hindustani classical and semi-classical music but are also used to accompany dance and various popular and devotional music.  The set of two drums may be called table jora; jora means ‘pair.’  The name tabla denotes the right-hand treble drum, also called daya (dahina or dayan, meaning “right”).  It is a slightly conical-shaped wooden drum with a goatskin drumhead, that is half hallowed out and tuned to a specific note, usually the tonic of the raga (melodic framework).  Skin tension is maintained by thong lacings and cylindrical wood dowels, known as gatta, that are inserted between the leather straps and wooden shell to adjust the pitch.  For fine tuning, a heavy hammer, seen here, is used to tap the wooden dowels to move them for adjustments in pitch.   

The baya (bahina or bayan, meaning “left”) is the larger kettle-shaped drum with a goatskin head.  It has a deeper bass tone and is usually made from a soft metal and often nickel-plated.  The baya, played with the left hand, may be a fifth or an octave below the daya.  

The circular disk of black tuning paste (syahi) on the drumheads of both drums affect pitch and generate overtones.  Playing the tabla is approached through the means of mnemonic syllables, as each drum stroke expresses a corresponding syllable.  The complex and intricate music of the drums reflects the tala (rhythmic framework) of the music.