I gotta tell ya… I’ve played drums since I was four years old and I think my absolute favorite type of drum (at least when speaking of hand drums) is the Tabla.
Pictured: Tabla
The Bayan (generally, the left handed drum) is the larger of the two and probably the coolest sounding drum of any I have played. I played the Tabla on my album on the segue tune “City Jazz” and on the intro of ‘Working on My Soul.’
The Bayan can be “tuned” as it is played… Meaning, that you can change the pitch by applying pressure to the drum head (press down on it, sucka) while striking the drum. Sounds erotic, no?
Perve.
The Dayan is the right handed drum–or the drum to be played with the right hand… Unless you’re left handed; in which case, you’re a freak and you should move to a cave and eat lichen.
The Dayan is pretty damn cool too, I must say… It sounds like a bell. Hmmm… Not really; but still… It rings more crisply and clearly than any other drum I’ve ever heard. It’s LIKE ringing a bell. Pristine. Ultimately, hard to explain.
Go google (NO DON’T! THEY’RE WATCHING YOU!!!!) or go to YouTube and search “tabla” or ‘dayan’ or ‘bayan.’ Better yet…
So cool your screen will melt shortly... The AB-SO-LUTE FREAKING MAN on Tabla. So yeah, you suck and he rocks...
Look up a cat named Alla Rakha (played with Ravi Shankar forever)… WHEW! Dude was major league badass!
They’re not terribly easy to play and I’ve been playing drums a long damn time. The approach to playing Tabla is just such a different method. I believe I shall learn to play them properly and hopefully well one day—too cool not to, ya dig?
So add Tabla to the list of a million instruments I’d love to learn before I shuffle off.
Pictured: ACTUAL tabla... Pimp hand is still strong though, don't question it...
