The Indian tabla, a two-piece percussion instrument, is the principal rhythmic accompaniment to most North Indian classical and light music.
The tabla consists of two upright drums that are played with fingers and palms. Each drum sits on a ringed base of padding. The smaller drum, slightly conical in shape, is called tabla and is generally played with the right hand. It is made of hollow rose or oak wood. The top of the drum is covered with a stretched, layered leather membrane held in place by leather braces. The wooden pegs between the braces and the drum adjust the tension in the braces, thus controlling the pitch of the instrument. A round black patch comprised of iron filings, flour, and other materials is coated at the center of the membrane. The tabla is tuned with a metal hammer by lightly striking the periphery of the top membrane or tapping the wooden pegs. It is usually tuned to the tonic note of the performance.
The larger rounded drum, called the duggi or the dhama (generally played with the left hand), has a body consisting of either clay or, more commonly in modern tablas, metal (nickel-plated brass, brass, copper or aluminum). The top is covered with a leather membrane held with thongs and, like the right side, is also adorned with a round black patch. The dhama has a larger diameter than the daya and provides the bass. The tabla player's index, third, and fourth fingers as well as the palm and heel of the hand strike the surface of both drums to generate the rich treble and low bass tones that make up the tabla bols (percussion notes). Combined, the both parts, can produce an extraordinary array of sounds and rhythms in the hands of accomplished tabla players.
(Courtesy of http://www.tabla.net)
