Dholak is a very popular folk drum of northern India. It is barrel shaped with a simple membrane on the right hand side; basically it is just a smaller version of the dhol. The left hand is also a single membrane with a special application on the inner surface. This application is a mixture of tar, clay and sand (dholak masala) which lowers the pitch and provides a well defined tone. There are two ways of tightening the dholak. Sometimes they are laced with rope, in which case, a series of metal rings are pulled to tighten the instrument. Sometimes metal turnbuckles are employed.
The position of the dholak in Indian music is complex. It is said that this instrument used to occupy a position of considerable prestige. Today it is merely relegated to filmi and folk music, as well as he allied styles of bhajan, geet, and qawwalli.
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