INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Tabla Forum: how to inspect a set of tabla

If you are going to spend lots of money on a new tabla, I would advise perhaps to take a trip to London(flights can be very sheap if u look) and perhaps stop at Jass Music Shop at South hall to buy a good pair of tabla. I stoped there the other they and they have some good stuff. The dahina is the most important at this stage(which would cost you �40 to �60 and I, or some other people could help you with that!plus you could get a free lesson!! All you need is a week end over here and someone to volunteer to help you.
cheers

I am a novice learner just like you. Yes,
I am told that learning from a teacher is
preferable. I have found one also. Teachers
recommendation was to buy a average tabla
(as per his opinion it's good enough for first 3-4 years). If it's costing you US$200+
equvilanent, you are paying too much.

Basic checks:

o Make sure it's not damaged (Especially the
leather portion). Purcussion instruments
rely on leather to generate rythems. It
should be tightly wrapped on the
instrument. Any slacks will prove no good.
o Make sure it's leather strings around
Dayan, Bayan is in place and are tight
and in sound condition.
o Make sure Bayan is not bent (possible
because it's metalic) in anyway.
o Ensure Black portion on top is not damaged
(Syahi).
o Wonden blocks for tightening strings
(usually cylindrical) are in place (For
Dayan only).
o Do not forget to see resonant sounds can be
generated from both units before buying.
Any breakages would be obvious if sound is
non-resonant consistently.
o Optionally:
o Get the Bases for both units (made of
cloth)
o Hammer for adjustments
o Carrying case if possible will be good.

I bought a basic tabla (bought with this
inspection and ok'ed later by teacher)
for US $175 includes all these things I
mentioned. You could get it for less also.

I would say equivalent of $150-$300 would be
good price.

Good luck and happy learning !

http://www.raganet.com/RagaNet/Issues/2/tabla2.html

Agostino,
Tabla player from Naples, Italy
agodemar@unina.it

Prasad Eswara!

My name is Agostino. I'm an Aerospace Engineer. I work as a research scientist at the University of Naples (Italy), where I live.
I'm also a Tabla & percussions player. I play in a fusion band.here in Naples. Often we exhibit in Salerno and the rest of Campania (Southern region of Italy) too.

In 1995 I began practicing yoga and met people who introduced me in Indian devotional music. Unusually, for a westerner like me, I was instructed on how to play the North Indian Pakhawaj, an ancient drum, often used in Druphad form of music. . like Ravi Shankar once said in one of his recordings ". . this drum is very sonorous; his sound is very deep, very majestic. ." It is really the progenitor of Tabla, according to many authors (see the monumental book by Robert S. Gottlieb).
I learned the bols, thekas, Indian rhythmic concepts, phrases, tihais ecc. just like a student of tabla does. .
I became able to accompany bhajans (devotional songs) and kirtans (or Namasankirtana, devotional chants in which the audience is involved in a call-and-responce fashion), and my skill and experience have grown more and more over the years.
When I began listening to Indian Classical Music, in 1997 I wanted to try to express my skills with Tablas.
I started with instructional videos by Ashwin Batish (http://www.bathish.com - very basic but instructive) and then purchased the great video by Alla Rakha edited by Jeff Feldman ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964369400/chanddavidshomep ).
Regarding the written material, the book by David Courtney "Fundamentals of Tabla" ( https://chandrakantha.com/products_and_services/fot.html ), and I dont think this is only my opinion, is the best tool for understanding the tabla world as a beginner.

Still, I have to say that the first important step in my process of learning and litterally imbibing tabla teachings occurred when I first met a Tabla player & teacher. With him I had to understand the nature of the Indian way of transmitting knowledge. I wasn't having a relationship with a western teacher, but. . with an Indian Tabla teacher (. . or guru), with his pedagogical background, related to the guru-shishya-parampara (i.e. master-devotee-chain) system. Though I already knew many thekas & compositions, the ones that I received from him, still now that I dont take lessons from him anymore, are of special importance for my playing style. . and for my way of "thinking" Tabla. . .

Regarding your concern in how to inspect tablas. .
I understand that you're not going to travel to India. . . so you have to order your Tablas from Italy. .
I have to say that, of course all kinds of advice appeared in this thread are of great help, but. .
unless you dont have a good friend who knows Tabla very well and comes with you at the store, you have to rely on your good fortune anyway. .
In Italy we have Narada store who imports professional quality Tablas and other Indian instruments at reasonable prices. . I purchased a very good Dayan from them. . but you have to CALL them (ask for Carlos), dont stop at their website. . I guess they also have a store in Sicily. .
In Germany, you can try India Instruments ( http://www.india-instruments.de ) by Jens Eckert. . quality is very high. . but also prices. .
I purchased high quality Tabla & Pakhawaj heads. . Jens is also a very nice guy
Finally, I've been told that Jas Musical in England also have good tablas. .

I send you my best wishes for your tabla learning. .

If you have questions, dont hesitate to contact me by email: agodemar@unina.it
(URL: http://cds.unina.it/~agodemar/)

-Agostino