How to Learn Tablas
The tabla is a musical instrument that originated in India. It consists of two drums: The smaller drum, usually made from teak or rosewood, is played by your dominant hand. The larger drum is typically made from brass or copper and is played by your non-dominant hand. The head of the drum is made from the hide of a cow or goat. Before you get started on your tabla lessons, make sure you have a high-quality instrument. Mass-produced tabla tend to have a poor sound and are more difficult to properly play.
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Instructions
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1
Find a teacher. Many instructors are listed at www.chandrakantha.com. (See Resources 2.) If there isn't a listed teacher in your area, try contacting the music department of your local college or university.
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2
Choose the style of playing you like best. There are two primary styles: dilli and purbi. The dilli style emphasizes rim strokes and using the middle finger. This style sounds sharper than purbi, which uses more open hand strokes and has a more hollow sound.
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3
Get a book, such as "Learn to Play on Tabla" by Ram Avtar or "Learning the Tabla" by David Courtney. Read about the basic strokes, the basic rhythms and how to read music for tabla.
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4
Visit tabla websites. (See Resources 4 and 5.) Visit www.chandrakantha.com for diagrams and basic stroke techniques. See videos of the basic strokes at www.batish.com.
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5
Practice as much as you can, once you get the basics. Play along to traditional Indian music, with CDs such as "Amrit: Traditional Music of India" and "Kavita o Kavita" by David and Chandra Courtney.
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Tips & Warnings
Before you find an instructor, make sure she teaches the method of playing (dilli or purbi) that you would like to learn. Start slowly and master the basics before you move on to more advanced material.
