Have you ever wondered how a Tabla is made? The process of creating a professional-grade, handmade Tabla is a remarkable journey that combines ancient craftsmanship with deep musical knowledge. At Punjab Music House in Khamanon, Punjab, our team of 20 master artisans transforms raw materials into concert-ready instruments through a meticulous process that has been refined over two decades.
Step 1: Selecting and Seasoning the Wood
Every great Tabla begins with the right wood. At NaadChit, we primarily use Sheesham (Indian Rosewood), prized for its density, durability, and rich acoustic properties. The wood is carefully selected and then naturally seasoned over an extended period. This patience is crucial — properly aged wood produces a warmer, more resonant tone.
Step 2: Shaping the Shell (Khol)
Once seasoned, the wood is turned on a lathe to create the distinctive rounded shell of the Dayan (right-hand drum). The shell must be perfectly symmetrical, with walls of consistent thickness. Even a slight variation can affect the sound. Our craftsmen have decades of experience in achieving the perfect balance between a shell thin enough to resonate freely and thick enough to be durable.
Step 3: Preparing the Drum Head (Pudi)
The Pudi is made from carefully selected goat skin. The skin must be of uniform thickness and free from any imperfections. It is soaked, stretched, and prepared with traditional techniques passed down through generations. The quality of the Pudi directly impacts the Tabla's tonal range and responsiveness.
Step 4: Applying the Syahi
The Syahi is the black circular spot at the center of the Tabla head, and it is arguably the most critical element of the instrument. Made from a carefully guarded recipe of iron filings, rice paste, and other natural ingredients, the Syahi is applied layer by layer — each layer must dry completely before the next is added. This painstaking process can take days, but it is what gives the Tabla its distinctive metallic ring, sustain, and the ability to produce the wide range of tones that make Tabla unique.
Step 5: Lacing and Tuning
The prepared drum head is attached to the shell using leather straps (tasma) and wooden tuning blocks (gatta). The tension of the lacing determines the pitch and overall sound of the instrument. Our craftsmen tune each Tabla by ear, tapping and adjusting until the perfect pitch is achieved across the entire surface of the drum head.
Step 6: The Bayan (Bass Drum)
The Bayan, or left-hand drum, follows a similar process but uses a metal or clay shell instead of wood. The most common material for professional Bayan is copper or brass, which produces a deep, resonant bass tone. The Bayan also receives a Syahi application, though the recipe and technique differ slightly from the Dayan.
Step 7: Quality Testing
Before any Tabla leaves our workshop, it undergoes rigorous quality testing. Our senior craftsmen play each instrument, checking for tonal consistency, sustain, responsiveness, and the clarity of each "bol" (Tabla syllable). Only instruments that meet our exacting standards earn the NaadChit name.
Why Handmade Tabla Sound Better
Machine-made Tabla may look similar, but they lack the subtle variations in shell thickness, Syahi application, and lacing tension that give handmade instruments their unique character. Each NaadChit Tabla has been touched by human hands at every stage of its creation, and this human touch is what gives our instruments their soul.
Visit Our Workshop
We welcome musicians and enthusiasts to visit our workshop in Khamanon, Punjab, to see the Tabla-making process firsthand. To arrange a visit or to order your handcrafted Tabla, contact us:
Website: naadchit.com
WhatsApp: +91 88722 71507
NaadChit by Punjab Music House | Khamanon, Punjab, India | Free shipping across India | Worldwide delivery