10 Steps to Play Tabla For Beginners

Many years ago, I took a course in tabla playing. The tutor was of Caucasian origin, but had studied with some great tabla players and clearly knew his Tin Taal from his Keherva Taal. For years since I've had the often hand-written sheets he gave me to learn from and felt they were a fantastic recourse that anyone at my stage of interest in tabla playing (i.e. just starting out) would find invaluable.

Here's my Beginners Lessons of Tabla playing

1. Learn how to sit while playing tabla. The position of waist should straight and the placement of both hands on the Dugi and Tabla should not be stiff. It should be in comfortable position, so that playing tabla is easy.

2. Position the four fingers of your right hand such as index, middle finger, ring finger and little finger so that they are separated from each other.

3. While playing the tabla, use the force of index finger on the edge of tabla to create a nice tune.

4. Position the middle finger above from the rest of three fingers while playing so that clear tuning of every bol (wording) come out.

5. Place the left hand on the Dugi and the right hand on Tabla.

6. While practicing, keep the rhythm slow for proper learning.

7. After primary learning, increase the rhythm gradually.

8. While practicing, avoid talking with others. Concentrate on tabla playing.

9. Don't try to practice more than one Tabla bol at a time. Repeat the practice of same bol at least one hour a day.

10. Try to listen to as much Indian Classical music as you can. This will allow you to hear how it sounds and get a feel for common rhythms. Hearing music is almost as important as riyaz (practice).

To have a look at various type of tables log on to http://www.indianity.com

Music tells about your personality

Music and personality traits

I think the type of music you hear or you like to hear, defines the type of person you are. Below is some the research done in the area.

Pop: If you like to hear pop music, then you are an extrovert and prefer more of conventional things. They have less bent to creativity.



Rap/ Hip Hop Rap lovers are again outgoing but they are more of aggressive and violent person.

 

 

Country Music: They are more sensitive to heart breaks, are conventional and outgoing.



Rock/ Heavy Metal: If you like a rock music, you are more of an introvert and have comparatively low self esteem.



Classical Music If you like to hear classical music, than you have a more of creative bent of mind but you are more of introvert with high self esteem.



Indie Indie lovers are more of intellectual, creative and introvert. They remain passive and anxious about things.



Jazz: You are a creative and extrovert person with high self esteem. You like to mingle with people and you are more at ease.





Dance and peppy music: You are more of outgoing person and assertive.



I really feel music defines you. If it was true for you, do share your views. If you are looking for some great musical instrument, log on to www.indianity.com

Pandit Ravi Shankar – A great Sitar Player

A source of inspiration – Pandit Ravi Shankar

All great people are source of inspiration for me and pundit Ravi Shankar is among the top of the list.

Often seen with Sitar in his hands, Pandit Ravi Shankar received the title of “A GOD FATHER OF WORLD MUSIC” from George Harrison. He is often described as the best contemporary Indian Classical Music Player. A great artist, a great musician and most of all a great human being, Pandit Ravi Shankar has been an inspiration for all the upcoming talents of the country. His music has power to reach and shake the souls of people.

The number of awards he has earned in his life time is simply out of the world. He was awarded with ‘Bharat Ratna’, ‘Padma Bhusan’, Grammy’s Award, Tagore Award and lot more. Awards which people like me can’t even dream of getting. Though his career started with dance, he later moved into music with the motivation from his music teacher “Allauddin Khan. He become famous for composing and creating Indian Classical Music.

He also recomposed one of most popular Indian Patriotic Song – “ Saare Jahan se Aacha”. After serving in AIR and directing music for few Indian films, he was called to demonstrate Indian Classical Music in New York City.

                   

He took part in music festivals of UNESCO and United Nations.

In his later life he served Indian Classical Music Internationally. He had a big hand in making Indian Classical Music popular world-wide.

He is and he will remain a source of inspiration for most of us. Let’s pay a tribute to him by working little harder in area of our interest. Let the world know us by our work.

If you are looking for Indian Musical Instruments like Sitar, Tabla or Sarod, log on to www.indianity.com

Most Popular String Instruments in India

Indian Musical Instruments : String

From all the types of musical instruments, string had been my favourite. Today, I thought of summarizing of writing about them. I wrote more about

Guitar:

 

Played by plucking the strings. Guitar is most popular instrument of recent times. It is usually made from wood and plastic. Strings of guitar are made from steel or nylon.  The strings are plucked with finger or finger nails or plectrum. The beauty of guitar is that they can play all kinds of music from classical to rock.

Sitar:

 

Again an Indian Classical Musical Instrument which is known to world by famous and renowned player – Pundit Ravi Shankar.

Violin:



Though smallest of string family, Violin is one of the high-pitched musical instruments. The sound is usually produced by drawing a bow across one or more strings. Violin is also known as fiddler. Mandolin:

 

Mandolin is played by hitting its strings. Sound is similar to the tone of violin. Its body is made from wood and fingerboard which has fret.

Sarangi:



It is most common Indian Classical Instrument. The word saarangi has been derived from a Sanskrit word where saar means “summarization” while ang “many forms”. Hence the sarangi, can summarize all forms of musical instruments.

If you are looking for any sort of string instruments, log on to www.indianity.com

Types of musical instruments

Classification of Musical Instruments – Indian Musical Instruments

In childhood, I use to often get confused between the types of musical instruments. Though now I understand it clearly. Still today I thought of doing its proper classification I just don’t want my kids to get confused in future.

String: String instruments, as the word suggest have strings in it. Sound depends on the thickness of string as well as length of air column. Below are few of the string instruments

• Guitar

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• Sitar
• Violin
• Sarod
• Sarangi
• Mandolin

Wind or Wood wind: Sound is produced in wood wind instrument by blowing the air. The shorter the air column will produce high pitch and vice a versa. The sound note depends on amount of air blown and length of air column in instrument. Different types of wind instruments are

• Flute

• Bagpipe
• Saxophone
• Shehnai
• Been

  Percussion: Sound note is produced in percussion instrument by striking or beating the surface of instrument. Beating or striking causes the vibration which in turn produces the sound. The sound note depends on the surface of instrument that gets hit by the stick or the hand. Different percussion instruments are:

• Drum
• Congo
• Tabla

• Djembe
• Bongo
• Dhol
• Triangle
• Xylophone

Brass: As the name suggests, these instruments are not necessarily made from brass. They are called brass instrument because of the nature and texture of sound that gets produced. The principle of producing sound is similar to wood wind instruments. Air column varies with the press valves or slide mechanism.

• Trumpet

• Bugle
• Tuba
• Trombone

Electric Instruments: They are quite latest in market and have created a sort of revolution. They are quite light weighted instruments and have almost replaced the bulky instruments. They are recently used in play back singing.

• Piano keyboards
• Synthesizers
• Taal Tarang
• Digital Tabla

• Swaramandal
• Swarangini
• Digital Tanpura

Did you enjoyed the post, if yes, do leave the comment. If you are looking for any of the above instruments from India, do make a visit to www.indianity.com  

Top 5 Wind Instruments played in India

Indian Musical Instruments: Type - Wind Instruments

While Been and Flute are made from wood; Trumpet, Saxophone and Bugle are brass instrument. Among all, been and flute are more common in India. I have a special attraction for them since childhood. In childhood, I use to wonder, how the soothing music is played by blowing air in instrument. Now that I have learnt about them, I would like to share my knowledge.

Been:



Been is usually played by snake chamber to control the body movements of snakes. Although it appears that snake is dancing on the music played by snake chamber but it is not true. He actually dances on the movements of snake chamber in order to defend himself. In reality, snakes cannot hear properly. These instruments are also called as ‘Pungi’ in India.

Trumpet:



They are among the oldest musical instruments. They are played by blowing air through closed lips. The brass trumpet is usually played by trombone player. Though it is not very common instrument in India but is admired world wide as wind instrument.

Saxophone:



Usually made from brass and was invented by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax. It is used in jazz and classical music. It is most popular form of musical instrument played in military.

Flute:



It is yet another wood wind instrument. It is being played by lord Krishna to attract gopis. It is played by blowing air in the edge of holes in the flute.

Bugle:



It is considered to be simplest brass instrument, again played by blowing air. This instrument is usually seen in military camp for daily routine call.  Earlier it was used to give instructions to soldiers in the camp.

All these instruments are made-in-India and are exported world-wide. If you are also looking for one such wind instrument in reasonable price, log on to www.indianity.com

Top Six Percussion Instruments played in India

Indian Musical Instrument – Percussion Set



I like the sound of percussion instrument played in background of most Indian songs. It gives a great rhythm and melody to music. Percussion instrument plays a key role in Indian Music. They are played by touch of the player. Percussion instruments are commonly referred as “the heartbeat” of the music world because it plays the crucial or important role in the music world. Below are the top percussion instruments:

Damroo:



The Damroo is the first instrument for the humanity which is given by the Lord (Shiva). This percussion instrument is also called as the monkey talking drum.

Bongo:



The bongo is the percussion instrument which creates the sound by a vibration of the stretched membrane. These are also known as the folk drums of Cuba.

Ghungroo:



This is the oldest and very popular percussion instrument in the world. The ghungroo takes superb control over rhythm.
Tabla:



The Tabla is often used in the Hindustani classical music. It is similar to the Afro-cuban relatives bongos. It consist the pair of hand drums.

Khanjeera:



The Khanjeera is the south Indian frame drum which is mostly used in the carnatic music as a supporting instrument for the mridangam.

Kartaal:



The percussion instrument kartaal means for palm of hand. This is played in the manner of a tambourine by being touched against the palm of the hand.

If you are looking for percussion instruments or any other Indian Musical Instrument, log on to www.indianity.com