Mel Bay Publications
Level : Beginning

The tabla, a hand drum which originated in India, has become very popular throughout the world. This method covers everything you need to know to learn to play the tabla, including the history and parts of the tabla, tuning and maintenance, positioning, basic exercises, and numerous techniques and patterns. A glossary is included to help the student decipher the many mnemonics and foreign terms which are essential to the tradition of the tabla.
Includes access to online audio that illustrates many of the exercises, so that this book may be used either with or without a teacher.

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
     Origin of instrument
     Pakhawaj
     Kettle drum
     The tawaif tradition
     British period and independence movement
PARTS OF TABLA
     Complete set
     Parts of tabla
     Parts of pudi
TUNING, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE
     Tightening the bayan
     Tuning the dayan
SITTING AND POSITIONING THE TABLA
     Drum placement
     Sitting position
BASIC EXERCISES
     Purbi / Dilli techniques
     Bol (mnemonic)
     Ka
     Naa
     Home position (right hand)
     Ga (Ge)
     Home position (left hand)
     Taa
     Dhaa
     Tin
     Dhin
TALAND THEKA
     Tal
     Beat (matra)
     Measure (vibhag)
     Cycle (avartan)
     Theka
     Recitation
     Clapping, waving and "sam"
     Tintal
     Jhaptal
     Dadra
     Dipchandi
     Rupak
MODULATION
MORE BOLS
     TiTa
     TaRaKiTa
     Tee
     Too
     Toon
     Kat
     Dhee
     Kra
KAIDA
     Kaida #1 (Dhaa Dhaa Ti Ta Dhaa Dhaa Too Naa)
     Kaida #2 (Dhaa Dhaa TiRa KiTa Dhaa Dhaa Too Naa)
     Kaida #3 (Dhaa Tee Dhaa Tee Dhaa Dhaa TiRaKiTa)
     Discussion of Kaida
     Kaida #4 (Nattu Khan's kaida)
MORE TALS, THEKAS, AND PRAKAR
     Punjabi theka (sitar khani)
     Ektal
     Kaherava
     Tintal prakars
     Dadra prakars
     Jhaptal prakars
     Rupak prakars
PURBI BAJ
     Purbi Taa, Dhaa, Ga, TiTa
     TiRaKiTa
     TiRaKiTaTaKa
STILL MORE BOLS
     KiRaNaaKa, Taa-TiTaKiRaNaaKa
     GiRaNaaGa, Dhaa-TiTaGiRaNaaGa
SIMPLE MUKHADAS
CONCLUSION
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
     Internet sites
     Suppliers of tabla
     Other books and articles

• Learning the Tabla Volume 1
• Learning the Tabla Volume 2