How to tune Tabla by Sulekh Ruparell

[@BluePlanetTube]

I just got a set of tabla drums a few nights ago and then discovered your beginner video. Since I've watched 2 more. Right from the beginning I appreciated how clearly and well organized you share all the information. Plus you have a very clear flowing voice. Great instrument. I've enjoyed practicing .... I wonder if the beating on the drum action will effect my ability to play my guitar, which is my main instrument... ? I love your videos. Thanks for Sharing.

[@sufsanin1917]

I am not an expert but but I believe yes. The tabla phrases and compositions are designed to make our hands more flexible and fluid. And that I guess is an advantage for playing all instruments right? Not only that, but practicing this instrument exponentially increases our sense of rhythm which is a bang for a buck. Also it helps people to learn and pick new instruments much more easily. I am not qualified to tell you anything but that's me and my teacher's belief. Happy Learning😊!

[@TablaWorks]

You're very welcome. Hopefully learning some Tabla will be a useful addition to your guitar playing. All the best

[@StratsRUs]

Thank you for such an in - depth yet easy to follow tutorial.Excellent ! Easily the best

[@jabe1489]

I am a beginner. I ordered a tabala thats of larger 7inch.. I thought this would help me learn the placement of my hands better. Was that a good judgment or do you recommended starting out with smaller inches?? Please help

[@TablaWorks]

7 inch diameter is a little large for a Dayan for a beginner. I would recommend you keep it, use it for practice further down the line but learn on 5.75 or 5.5 depending on your hand size. I wouldn't drop below 5.5 though as your hand will develop better on standard size tabla.

[@rvermausa]

Thanks a lot sir for all the teaching videos you have produced. I wonder if you can make a Android and iPhone app of your videos and charge them. It will your teaching to massive amount of people.

[@TablaWorks]

Yes let's see how things progress from here bit it's definitely one of my long term ambitions. Thanks for your positive comments.

[@malbig2344]

INamaste Sulekh, I am enjoying your downloadable beginner's course in tabla very much but my Dayan sounds so low, it is 5.5 inches and I was expecting it to sound much higher so we could practice at the same pitch, what can I do?

[@sumedhasah9627]

This is wonderful teaching Sulekh. Thanks so much for this education.

[@TablaWorks]

Many thanks for the positive comments. Best of luck

[@vanessamohan55]

You explain so well. Thank you. Can a c scale thabla be tuned to an f scale

[@MrSuperJaskirat]

No

[@Sushininja1234]

I was wondering: my tabla is 5,25 inches and i want to tune it to c# i bought it recently it is on one strap but its only playing a,g# (quite clearly) and its not even all around the tabla. Should i add on another strap? What do i do?

[@TablaWorks]

It should tune comfortably to C#. How many straps are each of the wooden cylindrical blocks placed in. It should be 2 at least possibly 3 depending on how long you've played them. If it still doesn't tune, you might want to consider having the straps stretched.

[@sevenbears]

How is it call the box who produce the harmonics? It's amazing

[@noorkhadim844]

Harmonium

[@JRChannel0]

Excellent video. Thanks a lot

[@soundcanal]

Hi Sulekh, great video! Well explained and nicely produced. I am not sure if you know of the instrument called "Madal", which is used a lot in Nepalese folk music. Due to the lack of proper information on Madal on the internet, I have resorted to Tabla. I just presumed that when it comes to tuning, the two instrument would work in a very similar manner. :) Hope I am not wrong in thinking that. I have one more question: You say that the Baaya can be 4 tones apart from the Daaya's pitch. What other tones can we have the Baaya in respect to the C pitch of Daaya. Thank you.

[@TablaWorks]

+soundcanal Thanks for the positive comments. The Dayan should always be tuned appropriately.The Bayan pitch in respect of the Dayan is a difficult one. The Bayan note will be perfectly consonant (in tune) with Dayan at a gap of exactly 5 full tones from the starting point. Eg C-G. A 4 tone gap (C-F) is appropriate in some scales of Indian music where a 5th is absent entirely. Both gaps produce balanced sounds between Dayan and Bayan. However, the hand pressure that is applied when playing the characteristic 'ghe' stroke on the Bayan varies the pitch (the more the pressure the lower the pitch) along a whole scale of notes. Therefore, experience of hearing the Tabla together can be more important than simply tuning Bayan. I have never played Madal so can't really comment on tuning. The construction looks very similar (aside from the wooden blocks absent on a Madal) so I would say the tuning principles would be very close.

[@soundcanal]

+Tabla Works So, in general, it is good to have the 'Bayan' 5 tones apart from the 'Dayan'. And this rule of not having the Bayan in sharps or flats - is this always true? Or can it vary with the scale the song uses? For eg. if the song is in the scale of D, which has a F#. Our madal has rings instead of the pegs. From what I can see, the functionality for them is the same. Thanks a lot for your help.

[@TablaWorks]

+soundcanal There is no fixed rule as regards the Bayan. In general you would be correct to say that a 5 note gap (or 4 note one) for some scales from the starting point of the scale is generally a lot better than having un-matching combinations. But the combinations of notes could easily have # and b as you point out depending on where the keynote is. For instance the key of C# would immediately bring about G# or f# as better sounding Bayan. Dont forget though, that the Bayan is as much about tension as it is about sound. That's the tension the Tabla player plays with vis-a-vis the tension of the strings. This changes the pitch and can sometimes render the initial 5 note tuning as fairly academic.

[@soundcanal]

Thanks a lot for taking the time out to reply back. :)

[@saunity4721]

which Android app can be used to tune tabla?

[@anilpillay4947]

Very good sir. nice teaching

[@pvillez]

Thank you, that was very helpful!

[@asothynaidu9715]

Great artist he excellent.

[@GhostyFilms]

What if Na and Tin are different? One changes and not the other? I can get the inner circle to change, but the rim won't change...

[@rvermausa]

What's the name of tuning app?

[@TablaWorks]

I am using an electronic tanpura made by Ragini.

[@2321Julius]

great video! What kind of harmonium is that?

[@TablaWorks]

Thanks Julius. This is a simple double reed harmonium manufactured by Bina musicals of Delhi.

[@rgpsmyschool303]

very nice

[@a.3160]

Great man!

[@readandtalk3197]

sir please upload ur video by serial numbers

[@jagannadhamvunnava8261]

Tr awesome

[@TablaWorks]

+Jagannadham Vunnava Thanks. Enjoying putting videos up to help as much as I can. Best of luck!

[@nickfarnell2400]

Great, but I couldn't cope with Sulekh continually saying "er, erm, er, er, err, erm, err, errr". It made ME say "AARRRRRRRGHHHHHH"!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TablaWorks]

Er....that's er...cool...

[@santoshrane4343]

hindi me hota to jada logonko achi tarahse samajane aata.