- Hornbostel-Sachs
- 211.1
- Family
- Percussion
- Origin
- North India
About
The tabla is a pair of hand drums central to Hindustani classical music. The right-hand drum (dayan) is tuned to the tonic; the left-hand drum (bayan) provides the bass. A black spot of iron filings (siyahi) on each head gives the tabla its distinctive, pitched resonance.
Famous Examples
1These are specific, historically notable physical instruments — each with its own story, provenance, and place in musical history.
Alla Rakha's Personal Tabla Set
c. 1960sMaker
Lucknow school (attributed) · Indian
Current Owner
Zakir Hussain (family)
Location
India
Estimated Value
Priceless
Notable Players
Why It Matters
Alla Rakha was the tabla accompanist for Ravi Shankar for decades and the teacher of his son Zakir Hussain — widely regarded as the greatest tabla player alive. The tabla set passed from father to son and represents an unbroken lineage of the Punjab gharana.
Description
A matched pair: the right-hand drum (tabla/dayan) is a small, high-pitched wooden shell; the left-hand drum (bayan/dagga) is a larger metal or clay bowl. The black spot of dried iron filings (siyahi) on each drumhead gives the tabla its uniquely pitched, harmonic sound.