Knowra Tabla Tabla The tabla is a pair of hand drums used widely in North Indian music. Its two differently sized drums produce contrasting pitches and tones through hand strokes.
Dayan : The smaller, higher-pitched tabla drum, usually played with the right hand. Its tuned strokes provide the sharper pitches in the pair.
Hindustani classical music : The classical music tradition of North India, organized around ragas and rhythmic cycles. Tabla commonly accompanies its instrumental and vocal performances.
Amir Khusrau : A 13th-century Persian-language poet and musician associated with the cultural history of the Delhi Sultanate. Later origin stories credit him with inventing tabla, though historical evidence does not establish that claim.
Alla Rakha : An Indian tabla player celebrated for performances with Ravi Shankar and for his solo artistry. His concerts helped bring tabla performance to international audiences.
Pakhawaj : A double-headed barrel drum used in North Indian classical music, played horizontally with both hands. Unlike tabla’s two separate drums, pakhawaj has one barrel-shaped body and a different playing technique.
Bayan : The larger, lower-pitched tabla drum, usually played with the left hand. Pressure on its drumhead bends bass tones during performance.
Tala (music) : A repeating rhythmic cycle that organizes time in Indian classical music. Tabla articulates and elaborates the cycle while marking its recurring structure.
Delhi gharana : One of the oldest tabla schools, associated with a repertoire of clear, open strokes. Its lineage represents an early, influential approach to tabla playing.
Zakir Hussain : An Indian tabla virtuoso known for classical performance and collaborations across musical traditions. His work has expanded tabla’s visibility in India and internationally.
Mridangam : A double-headed barrel drum central to South Indian classical music. It serves a comparable rhythmic role in Carnatic music but has a different shape and tradition.
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