Wood Drum Instrument making Complete Process Of Making tabla

Tabla making is a meticulous, traditional craft that requires both precision and expertise. The tabla is a pair of hand drums used primarily in Indian classical music, consisting of two drums: the smaller, higher-pitched dayan (right-hand drum) and the larger, bass-heavy bayan (left-hand drum). Here’s a description of the tabla-making process:

1. Dayan (Right-Hand Drum)

• Material: The body of the dayan is traditionally made from a single block of high-quality wood, usually sheesham (Indian rosewood) or tamarind. The wood is seasoned for several months to prevent cracking and warping.
• Shaping: The block of wood is carved into a hollow cylinder, tapering slightly at the base. The inner surface is carefully smoothened and rounded for optimal sound resonance.
• Drum Head (Pudi): The drumhead is constructed from several layers of animal hide (usually goatskin). Three layers are glued together: the outer ring (called kinar), the main playing surface (maidan), and the central black patch (syahi), which gives the drum its distinctive tonal quality.
• Syahi: This is a critical feature made from a paste of iron filings and starch. It is carefully applied in thin, concentric circles, creating a dense, hard patch in the center of the drumhead.

2. Bayan (Left-Hand Drum)

• Material: The bayan is typically made from metal (brass, copper, or even steel), though cheaper models may use clay. The bowl shape is created either by hand or using machines, depending on the maker’s resources.
• Shaping: The bayan’s shape is more rounded, with a wide, flat base that helps create the deep, resonant bass tones.
• Drum Head (Pudi): Similar to the dayan, the bayan’s head is made from layers of goat skin. It also has a central syahi for tonal depth but is thicker than the dayan’s, given the drum’s role in producing low-pitched sounds.

3. Assembly

• Lacing: Both drumheads are attached to their respective bodies using braided leather straps. The straps are laced through holes around the rim of the drumheads and pulled tightly to ensure the head is tensioned.
• Tuning Blocks: Small cylindrical wooden blocks are placed between the drum body and the straps. Adjusting these blocks can change the tension of the drumhead and, consequently, the pitch of the tabla.

4. Tuning

• The tabla is tuned by carefully adjusting the tension of the leather straps and the placement of the tuning blocks. Fine-tuning is done using a small hammer to tap around the edges of the drumhead to achieve the desired pitch.

5. Polishing and Finishing

• Once assembled and tuned, the tabla is polished and decorated. The wooden surface of the dayan is often varnished, and the metal surface of the bayan may be polished for an aesthetically pleasing