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Tabala

The tabla is a very popular percussion instrument of India. It consists of two drums called tabla & dagga (bayan) respectively. The treble drum (tabla) is generally made of wood and the top is covered with a stretched skin. To produce the distinct treble sound of the tabla; the artesan has to make a hard mixture in the center of the tabla ( shahi ). The skin is wrapped around the wood frame with the help of leather strings (wadi ) and round wooden blocks (gatta). The tuning is done with the help of a hammer which is struck on the gatta to tense or relax the skin. The dagga pot is generally made of brass or copper. It is the bass accompaniment of the Tabla. The tabla is about 11 inches long while the dagga is about 10 inches long.