A pair of small Indian drums played with the fingers and palms, consisting of a wooden drum (tabla) and a metal drum (bayan). They are central to North Indian classical music.
From Hindi तबला (tablā), possibly derived from Arabic طبل (ṭabl) meaning 'drum' through Persian influence. The word entered English in the 19th century through British documentation of Indian classical music. The instrument combines elements from various Middle Eastern and South Asian drumming traditions.
Tabla players can produce over 50 different sounds from just two drums, each with its own onomatopoeic name like 'dha', 'tin', and 'na'! The art is so complex that master tabla players are considered equal to virtuoso pianists, and learning the traditional compositions can take decades to master.
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