Understanding Tabla bols - Vishwamohini Editor

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Understanding Tabla bols

By Shivraj Sawant 5,045 views Tags: tabla, bols

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Variety of sound effects can be produced on Tabla, sounds produced on Tabla can be expressed with language, which are called as "Bols".

<img src="../vm_resources/vm_img/tabla.jpg" class="img-rounded" style="max-width:100%;">

MANY BOLS ARE PLAYED IN SAME WAY BUT PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY FOR SMOOTH RECITAL OF COMPOSITIONS

Broadly there are two types of sounds possible on each drum of Tabla
- Closed sound on Daya
- Closed sound on Baya
- Open sound on Daya
- Open sound on Baya

Below are the Bols which can be produced on Tabla / Daya ( left side drum from above image )

Open sound Bols on Daya

[melody start]
[Ta|Tin|Tun|Na|Din|Da][lyrics]
[T1|T2|T3|N1|D7|D9][tabla]
[melody end]

Closed sound Bols on Daya

[melody start]
[Ti|Te|Tet|Ta|Ta|Tra|Ra|Re|Na|Da][lyrics]
[T4|T5|T6|T7|T8|T9|R1|R2|N2|D8][tabla]
[melody end]

Below are the Bols which can be produced on Baya / Dagga ( Right side drum from above image )

Open sound Bols on Baya

[melody start]
[Ge|Gi|Ga|Ghe|Ghi|Gha][lyrics]
[G1|G2|G3|H1|H2|H3][tabla]
[melody end]

Closed sound Bols on Baya
[melody start]
[Ke|Ki|Ka|Kat][lyrics]
[K1|K2|K3|K4][tabla]
[melody end]

There are some more Bols evolved with the combinations of Bols produced on Daya and Baya, 
Broad level possible combinations are 
- Closed sound on Daya + Closed sound on Baya
- Open sound on Daya + Open sound on Baya
- Open sound on Baya + Closed sound on Daya
- Open sound on Baya + Open sound on Daya

In below tables, Bol in first column shows Bol played on Baya.
Bol in second column shows Bol played on Daya
Bol in third column shows Bol created with the combination of first & second Bol

Bols having open sounds on Tabla ( Daya + Baya ),
[melody start]
[Ge|Ta / Na|Dha][lyrics]
[G1|N1|D1][tabla]
[Ge|Tin|Dhin][lyrics]
[G1|T2|D2][tabla]
[Ge|Tun|Dhin][lyrics]
[G1|T3|D3][tabla]
[melody end]

Bols having closed sounds on Tabla ( Daya + Baya ),

[melody start]
[Ge|Ti|Dhi][lyrics]
[G1|T4|D4][tabla]
[Ge|Te|Dhe][lyrics]
[G1|T5|D5][tabla]
[Ge|Tet|Dhin][lyrics]
[G1|T6|D6][tabla]
[melody end]

Using combinations of all these syllables, compositions of Tabla are created. It is same like we writing words, sentences, paragraphs using our speaking language.

You will be amazed when you will understand beauty of compositions created using these Bols

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