Does Learning The Tabla - Helps Us Improve Our Drumming ?

[RudimentalDrummer]

Hello fellow Bros

I met an Organist the other night and he told me that - The Tabla is a very complicated drumming instrument to learn....an example - their 16th note in drumming has 5 Variations (of course I don't understand what he means by this)...but do you really think that Learning/Picking Up How To Play the Tabla will help us become a better drumme and be able to do nicer rythmn as quoted?

Does any of you Bros here play the Tabla (or at least have a little knowledge about this Indian Instrument) ....can you share it with me.


Thank You !

 

[hideru]

heyys!
i actually played the tabla last time in my sec sch's indian orchest, cos i was interested in the tabla and cos no one else wanted to play it.

in terms of playing it, they have somewhat different techniques of hitting them of course. it took me afew weeks to get it somehow right..

anyways, i think it can somehow improve drumming especially in terms of timing and synchronizing.. and probably some unique drum beats..? but IMO to affect drumming significantly, i think you'd have to learn the tabla for quite some time until the drum skills can be significantly improved i think..

but it was definitely fun. if u have the chance to learn to play it, try! :wink:

 

[Logan]

ahh....my very first post here.

Good morning, everyone. I am the organist that RD had mentioned. Well, I started out learning the Tabla only about 4 weeks ago. Thus, this makes me the last person to come to for comments on this instrument. However, let me share with you what little I do know.

I have been playing western songs on the organ for over a decade now, and I realise that a 16beat in a western song means just that. In other words, you can easily tell the 16beat when you hear it. This is not the case with Indian classical music. I have been to quite a number of Indian classical performances, and in these, the tabla and/or the mirdhangam would form the rythem section of the music. And, what I noticed is that, when the music initially starts, I am able to follow the rythemic patterns. Then, I soon loose track of any sense of the rythem as the music progress. After talking to one of the performers, I realised that what these musicians usually did was to start out with a basic ryhthem, say the 8or 16 beat, and repeat over and over while improvising. There are so many variations(or improvisations) of the same beat that I usually do not follow the music as it progresses with time. This is how confusing it gets, from my laymans' point of view.

And, in case you are interested, Mr Tama Goh,in his band Ethnicity, actually performs with one of the most accomplished local tabla player, Mr. Maniam. If you are able to catch them performing, do note how the tabla doubles up with the drums. Of course, in this case, the tabla is kept quite simple.

Regards,
Logan

 

[Logan]

To add on, my telling RD that there were 5 variations was just an example. Could be more or less. This you really have to ask an expert.

And, I second what hideru said, that learning the tabla may be benefitial to playing the drums. Perhaps not in terms of hand co-ordination (since I would think that the drum demands more co-ordination?) but maybe in terms of something else? Again, I am out of my boots here and would need someone who has had really good experience to comment.

Regards,
Logan

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

Finally Bro Logan is out here...and it's great to have you here.

I believe the Tabla as you say might not help in co-ordination much but if it does helps a drummer develop playing the drums very musically - that's very Ideal I would say...what do you think?

So you are going to bring me meet those Tabla Instructor correct?..Is it expensive - how do they charge?...any Idea Bro?

 

[weckl-x]

I'm pretty sure dwelling into any other form of percussion definitely helps you develop as a player. Just like exposing yourself to different genres of music instead of just sticking to one your whole life.

I play some djembe and congas (picked up from watching people, books and videos), simple stuff, but it's fun. You'll find stuff that you can apply on both sides, and even incorporate into playing a kit. You'll definitely enjoy yourself!

Some cool videos:
Steve Smith-Drums Salar Nader- Tabla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgQ8qWdvlLI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8mngAgYxnk&mode=related&search=

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

I tried playing on my djembe and my friend's congas....what happened was my palm got swollen for 4 days, cannot drum for a week....Hahahahaha :lol: that was a bad experience to me......after that I did not touch this 2 drums again.

 

[weckl-x]

Wah! 8O Hardcore...

 

[Logan]

Hi RD. Its nice to have such a forum. In fact, I have been learning alot from you guys from behind the scenes.

Ok, there are quite a number of places to learn the tabla. For starters, there is the Temple of Fine Arts (aka TFA or Kalamandir). This is located in the basement of Chinatownpoint. The teacher is Mr Nawaz. He charges about $40 a month for a group class to $40/hour for individual class.

I have to source around for other places. But, from what I have heard, TFA is the best for tabla lessons. Perhaps, if you can catch hold of Mr Maniam from Ethnicity, then you can have another good teacher.

About the musically of the instrument - My first impression is this: you use your FINGERS to play the tabla, instead of slapping your palm like you do in the conga (correct me if I am wrong ya?). Thus, how the player really controls the instrument via his/her fingers is key to making it sound good.

 

[Logan]

weckl-x, could I ask you if there is any hand excersice to be done before playing the conga or similar instruments? Or, would a seasoned player just walk up to the instrument and play it. I am asking because I have had an similar experience to RD... hehe.

 

[weckl-x]

Yup, there are warmup exercises which can be performed instead of just going up and whacking away, risking injury!

There are some pages on LP that feature sample warmup exercises
http://www.lpmusic.com/Play_Like_A_Pro/Lessons_From_Pros/congawarmup.html
http://www.lpmusic.com/Play_Like_A_Pro/Lessons_From_Pros/djembe.html
http://www.lpmusic.com/Play_Like_A_Pro/Lessons_From_Pros/conga_chopbuilders.html
http://www.lpmusic.com/Play_Like_A_Pro/Lessons_From_Pros/congawarmups_part2.htm

Basically, the concept is similar to what we might do on a drum set, practising the different strokes. While warming up, your main focus is on feeling and getting the right tone with the right technique, rather than playing a consistent rhythm/pattern.

Before I start playing on them, I usually do stuff that I'm familiar with, like rudiments, to warm up.

Disclaimer: I'm not seasoned or experienced, but just a casual player on the djembe and congas.

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

Logan...me wify is now in Chennai India lah ...Kekekekeke :smt040

What Type of Tabla to buy ?...Is there good & bad ones????..I really knows nothing, but since she is now having meeting & touring Motorolla & Nokia New Plant there - thought of asking her to get a Tabla for me.

Does it comes in a pair of 2 or what?.....how much would a Tabla cost???? wah-low I really knows nothing man.

Can help - give me some idea?

 

[blurred]

hey rudimentary- i reckon it will help u lots if u learn the tabla. u'll have a better grasp of odd meter playing and odd groupings in 4. the indian players i find also have an interesting way of counting 16notes with the joints of their fingers.
check out trilok grutu with the john mclaughlan trio, and zakir hussein
hope i spelt it right. they kick serious ass.

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

Like that har...thks Bro. Anway one of my customer is comming to Singapore to see me soon from Blangadesh...I will ask him to get me a good Tabla...Kekeke :lol: ...then I go learn and play it well...Who knows - maybe scarly ... got Indian GF also next time :smt061 :smt040 good good .. :smt023

 

[BadgerS88]

yo can some one help me on this query?

ok basically im the lead guitarist in my band and we play rock, funk and classic rock covers etc and some stuff like santana, latina blues etc. (which requires percussion).

and my drummers a girl and when i asked her to try playing the percussion set (that was a full set sitting right there) she said and i quote, "EEEEEEEE!!"

its not that im despising her choice of words but i'll explain:
when i first met her as a drummer, she played punk. when i started playing with her, i siad lets just jam space trucking by deep purple. she was surprised classic rock sounded this good since she never listened to any. surprising?

now since shes opened up her opinions, to most genres, and also been taking advanced lessons from Kevin Corey, shes improved a gazzillion, and now we play jimi hendrix, led zep, deep purple etc.

What im tryna ask is, since her mind is somehow subject to change, is it possible that for some songs, she could just incoporate the percussions. it'll be a very nice touch. like the eagles. what should i explain to her?

 

[weckl-x]

Well, like what you said, expose her to songs/videos which show how the percussion section adds to the whole feel of the song.

 

[BadgerS88]

yeah cool man, i did, but she agrees with the feel and everything yet still not entirely convinced to play it.

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

BadgerS88

I think I know why. Yes a girl can be very open, but you know lah..a girl is a girl mah. Maybe she look at the Percussion Instrument eg Conga, Bongo etc..and she said to herself "Wah..ask me to Slap this stupid damn thing - sure my hand become not smooth liao next time".....Hahahaha :lol:

So you must use the 3C method( 1st you try to Convince her which you have tried, if still cannot you conFuse her.then you Con her into playing the Percussion) tell her lah - - This is good "Next time you slap your boyfriend...he sure kenna chai-lay chailat one - one slap from your hand on the face - swollen 4 days minimum."...then she will play....it's a Kang-Hu you know. Kekekekeke :smt040 .

Then you also supply her some good hands lotion lad my friend....like that ok liao.

See I bery clever one. :weedman:

 

[weckl-x]

Well, you can't force someone if they're not interested I suppose, it's their own musical journey.

But you can try to show her how Sheila E. didn't get world-famous from being selective :lol: She's an excellent drummer and percussionist.

http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Sheila_E.html

 

[distorted_soul]

haha i never knew this thread existed... I've been learning/playing the tabla for well over 10 years... i'm 18 now... yeap firstly its not as difficult as it seems, but it needs alot of patience and help and getting ur technique right when u start out... also your palms need to get seasoned and hand movement and all need alot of attention... In indian music, be it south or north based, they have alot of emphasis on time structure... and its rather far from normal english stuff... there can be alternating timings for each bar and stuff, and can go from slow to filling in with a fast rapid roll-sorta beat... it doesnt necessarily help in ur drumming for western based drums, but it can help in getting the weird timings and weird structures and maintaining the beat...

also in tabla there is almost countless styles, countless types of playing and countless type of beating and pressing and what not... i'm not sure if i'm actually helping much, but if anything just feel free to ask me or anything...

as for tablas, for a fact, its harder to get them in chennai (south india) than in Singapore. and its for sure much more expensive. The tabla is mainly from the northern parts of india like Bengal and Bombay sort. And transporting them can be a bit** if you dont get them from proper stores there and if they dont give the proper case, coz they can get really heavy for the best ones... the right drum (called the Dagga) is made of metal outer casing and mainly acts as the bass drum sort and the left one is the one made of thick wood (not sure what wood they use exactly) and its the one with the higher pitches (called the tabla), acting more closely like a snare... the heads are all made of cow skin... oh and when playing, do use powder... dab abit on the two heads and abit on ur palm and yeah its necessary for smooth playing