The tuning of the tabla is dependent on the raga being played. The wooden dagga should be tuned very low, but, not so low that it does not compliment the tabla.Tabla drumheads are attached and tuned by lacing. The lacing is looped through 16 holes on the edge of the head, over the body, and around a rawhide ring at the base of the drum. The lacing is pulled tight. For tuning, 8 tabla blocks are held under the lacing. These blocks are tapped with the tuning hammer to slacken or stretch the lacing. The subtle movement of the blocks alters the pitch of the drum. Tapping the blocks lower, increases the tension on the lacing and puddi, and raises the pitch of the drum. Fine tuning can be achieved by tapping the edge of the puddi or laces. It is important to have equal tension around the drum for proper tuning.
Re-heading a laced tabla requires some patience. Pay special attention to the way the lacing is wrapped before you remove the old head. It may take some time to re-lace, and some sweat to pull the lacing tight.
There is a nut and bolt style tunable tabla set which is often preferred to the lace tuning sets. The nut and bolt tuning allow fast replacement of the heads as well as ease of tuning. This is especially helpful for the novice.
The "Exotic Percussion of the World" video (code VIDE) is available from Mid-East.com. It provides an introduction to a number of percussion instruments. The video also demonstrates the tabla. Mid-East also carries an "Introduction to Tabla "video (code VBT1). This video covers the parts the tabla, care and maintenance, tuning, and several learning exercises.
When tuning the tabla make an effort to keep the tension equally dispersed around the entire head of the drum. Uneven tension on the head will create problems. All Mid-East dayans come with eight gatta (wooden dowels) in place. The gatta can be moved up or down to change the tension and the tune of the drum.
On a newly re-headed tabla, tension is increased by adding the gatta. If the tasma are very tight you may have to begin with smaller diameter gatta. You can use 1 inch thick dowel rod cut into 3" lengths.
As you add gatta maintain an even number to keep the tension even. Once the gatta are in place you can achieve considerable tuning by hammering the gatta. Hammer them downward to increase the tension and pitch, and hammer them upward to decrease the tension and pitch. Or you may lift additional tasma (laces) over the existing gatta. When inserting gatta, or lifting tasma, there is a prescribed way. Look at the side of your drum. The tasma run up and down, up and down around the drum. Do not think of this as 16 individual laces- rather think of this as four sets (remember there were 16 holes). Each set make a capital letter "M." The pattern is 1-up, 2-down, 3- up, 4-down. When positioning a gatta, insert it first under the 2-down lace. When you need to add tension pull the tasma over the gatta in the following sequence: begin with 2-down, then 3-up, 1-up, and 4-down last. This sequence is important to avoid torque on the puddi.
Once you have the drum close to tuned you can fine tune by adjusting the gajara (collar). Tapping down on the top outside edge of the gajara with the flat side of the hammer tightens it and raises the pitch. Tapping up from the underside loosens the puddi and lowers the pitch. Important- the area of the puddi that overlays the drum's top edge is delicate, do not strike the head!
The wooden dayan should be tuned very low. However, do not tune the dayan so low that it does not compliment the bayan. Ultimately, the tuning of the tabla is dependent on the raga being played.
Remember the tasma and the puddi are natural animal skin. Over time they will stretch. This may be most noticeable in the first weeks after a re-head, so you may have to tune more often. Or even, re-tighten the tasma.
