Tabla

[OldHippy]

Does anyone play them? The local store has a set for around $300 and I've ordered a book and dvd. There are no teachers around here. I understand they are very difficult to learn, but all I want is to pick up a few basic patterns that might fit into some jazz. I already take drum lessons and have been doing that for 4 years, so the tabla will just be something to play around with in spare time.

[aydee]

lots of good books that teach you tabla rudiments. internet is a great resource too. Check out Zakir Hussian ( Shakti & a bunch of other bands ), and Trilok Gurtu for jazz applications. Bela Fleck does some interesting things with a tabla in the ensemble.

www.tabla.com faq is a good place to start.

[Garvin]

You really need someone to show you the strokes. I think its kind of funy for Aydee to throw out names like Zakir, and Trilok Gurtu as listening examples. Those are killer players and I think if you listened to those guys and bought a set of tablas, you might just want to throw them away after about 10 minutes LOL!

Seriously, there are some great resources online. Also check out Pete Locketts site. Getting the proper sound out of the strokes is seriously important, probably more than any other percussion instrument. You could obviously spend a lifetime with the tabla, and I'm not one of the people that is gonna tell you that you have to give up everything else in your life in order to play dha-te-dha-ge-na-dha-terekita, BUT just be prepared to take a little more time with them in order to get the most out of whatever time you do have.

Someone on the forum put up a nice little video of them playing along with a Tool song, but I can't remember who it was. I think one of our Scandanavian members.

Good luck!

[Deathmetalconga]

Like Garvin, I'd advise starting with simple stuff. Masters can serve as inspiration when you are learning something new, but they aren't going to help you get the basics down.

Learning the bols is crucial - they are the spoken form of the tabla (small drum) and bayan (large drum). Traditionally, kids in India who apprentice in tablas must memorize thousands of bol combinations before they're even allowed to touch drums. The nice thing about memorizing bols is they really do help you internalize and express the rhythms and melodies of the tablas. You can listen to bol recitations while driving around even.

I don't know where you live, but sitarists are usually in short supply. Try to find a sitarist or (more rarely) someone who plays the vina (bowed three-stringed sitar-like instrument) or surbarhar (bass sitar). Playing with other instruments from Indian classical music will force you to improve and add enjoyment.

Don't get an aluminum-shelled bayan. These are found on the cheap starter sets. My first was aluminum and it they just don't project at all. Get brass or steel or, if you really have cash, bronze or copper.

Of course, my tablas are bolt-tuned.

[Bart Elliott]

I play Tabla, and from my percussion experience I would say that Tabla is one of the hardest hand percussion instruments on the planet. You'll be much happier and have greater progress and success if you'll find a good teacher (as was suggested). Even if you have to drive 100 miles, it will be worth it.

Some teachers offer video lessons (I do), but for Tabla, I would suggest one-on-one lessons if at all possible. The next best thing would be to find a good teaching/instructional video, but even then you'll want at least a few lessons to get the correct technique.

One of my teachers from back in 80's was David Courtney (http://www.chandrakantha.com/tablasite/). He resides in Houston and has a wealth of knowledge. Besides having his own instructional books, his site has a lot of good information that you can glean from. One of the things I liked studying with David is that he didn't try to force the "classical" approach on me, and embraced the fact that I really wanted to use the Tabla in more of a fusion approach. I don't have the time to be a guru on Tabla, but I know enough to get by and continue using the instrument for recording sessions and live performances.

[aydee]

here is a lecture demonstration of tabla basics by Zakir Hussain :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-UnLy4QTY&feature=related

also check out Nitin Sawhney ( with Jeff Beck )

and Talvin Singh whos doing some intersting modern work with the tabla.

DMC and Garvin are right.There is no substitute for a teacher, specially for the tabla.

[Garvin]

One of my teachers from back in 80's was David Courtney (http://www.chandrakantha.com/tablasite/). He resides in Houston and has a wealth of knowledge. Besides having his own instructional books, his site has a lot of good information that you can glean from. One of the things I liked studying with David is that he didn't try to force the "classical" approach on me, and embraced the fact that I really wanted to use the Tabla in more of a fusion approach. I don't have the time to be a guru on Tabla, but I know enough to get by and continue using the instrument for recording sessions and live performances.

I bought a great CD/Book by David Courtney. I had a psuedo-teacher as well to help my technique, but Mr. Courtneys book is an excellent resource. I still have it actually and leaf through it every now and then to refresh myself on some of the main concepts. Very dense material in there.

[Deathmetalconga]

here is a lecture demonstration of tabla basics by Zakir Hussain :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-UnLy4QTY&feature=related

also check out Nitin Sawhney ( with Jeff Beck )

and Talvin Singh whos doing some intersting modern work with the tabla.

DMC and Garvin are right.There is no substitute for a teacher, specially for the tabla.

I wish I had a teacher, but I've never had a lesson. Boise Idaho isn't exactly a hotbed of Indian music. I've studied some books and tapes by Aloke Dutta and others, CDs of dadra (3-beat cycle) and I've played with a few sitarists, but I've just had to teach myself.

[millerdakiller]

the first thing you have to understand about tabla that is very different then drumset, is that the tabla is a tonal instrument. And as a result you can play "wrong" notes. Now, most people sitting in a jazz club aren't going to be tabla experts and won't really know the difference, and I really don't think anyone but a tabla master is going to come up to you after the show and chew you out for playin' them wrong, but be warned, if you don't understand tonality, and only deal with rythym, this is going to be something that you have to learn.

Interesting fact about tablas, you tune them with a tiny metal hammer. I always thought that was hilarious.