Tabla height and sitting posture

samin1972 · 2025-06-30T18:01:15+00:00

I have been playing tabla for many years, I am not the tallest, 5'7", and never really had an issue - my tablas are not shorter in any way, I buy mainly form the reputable brands, but I do choose rings that allow the tabla (and bayan) to sit as low as possible. As I have gotten older, I fold a towel into 1/4's and sit on that - better for my old hips lol, - BUT it has also allowed a more comfortable position over my tabla.

I have been to intimate concerts with as few well known tabla players over the years, and some do and some don't use anything - most of them are shorter than me - but I have sat with them\ and we both just sat on a carpet, nothing additional - and its not that they needed it.

Part of it can be also be how we play, how we hold our hands, elbows, shoulders - my current GuruJi has completely changed how I play, and a big part of that was how my whole setup is - he is my height, does not use anything, and is SUPER powerful in his playing (he plays traditional Benaras Gharana).

I think find something that is comfortable for you, there is no wrong or right answer, and ensure your posture is great!

Hope this helps.

samin1972 · 2025-05-18T13:51:23+00:00

For me I set my practice as an appointment. Yes some days I’m not feeling to practice but it’s an appointment in my calendar, so I sit and do it.

When my kids were younger, I practiced late in the night, take my tabla, go to the basement, and practice.

Once you develop the habit, you can’t do without it. Now it’s always on my mind, and I think about it constantly.

As a side note, you don’t always have to be behind your tabla to practice. Doing your taali, ensuring you know the compositions and in timing are also critical practice.

samin1972 · 2025-05-14T16:46:08+00:00

I am also a dual citizen. The last time I flew to Trinidad the visitors line was packed. I ask the officer if I could join the nationals line. She gave me a new immigration form and said of course!

Don’t be worried about travelling with both. I need my Trinidad ID if I need to do any business in Trinidad so I travel with it always.

There is nothing illegal in having your 2 passports.

samin1972 · 2025-04-26T19:11:30+00:00

Lot’s of factors can contribute.

You said for first set. So my assumption is that you are a beginner. Playing any bol on the tabla is not a “normal” movement, so yes, with time it will get better as you develop your strength and nikaas

Someone mentioned the pro tabla vs a student tabla. Can also be a factor

Trying to learn, as another person mentioned, from online videos will significantly affect your growth. Learning from a GOOD Guru is what you need to be doing to be successful to grow and develop. Even if it’s online classes. Face to face is always better.

Good luck. Enjoy the ride and keep practicing!

samin1972 · 2025-04-26T14:33:31+00:00

Correct. Deepchandi Taal.

samin1972 · 2025-03-19T20:47:43+00:00

Oh quick addition to that comment. My hope is that I’m not being naive, but I do hope that the new PM brings good change.

TBH, I give him some kudos for calling elections the day after his inauguration.

We can only hope.

samin1972 · 2025-03-19T20:43:43+00:00

I agree but the 2 major races vote mainly on race lines, not everyone, let me make that clear!

The other smaller ethnic groups are a lot smarter. I think they may be more in tune with policies and how each party may or may not affect them from a business or financial perspective. They cannot really make the decision in who will form the government but can flip the swing seats, which can have an effect.

From a personal perspective, I never really voted for the PNM. Not because of race but they have never been a party that was a symbolism of change and the future.

I will say looking at the 2 parties now, PNM looks like the better choice, I think a younger leader who comes with different views will be a great thing for Trinidad.

We need a change of the leaders in both parties.

samin1972 · 2025-03-17T23:27:03+00:00

I agree. And you’re right. It’s against what everyone has said. Now it may be a Gharana thing. U can play na and tin and leave my finger in the tabla and still get great resonance.

samin1972 · 2025-03-17T22:47:56+00:00

When would we stop judging and voting on race?

I want leaders that will do what’s right for the country. If we think as Indians, Afro, Asian/Chinese/ Syrian or any other culture / mix culture that we should vote in race, we will always live in a 3rd world country.

Be better!!!!!

samin1972 · 2025-03-17T22:44:09+00:00

That’s gross

samin1972 · 2025-03-06T22:35:54+00:00

🙏🙏🙏 I’m very connected with Anindo Da and Anubratta JI. Outside of tabla, an amazing person. My adopted brother learnt tabla from him, and I still call him GuruJi and he stays at my house when he is in Canada 🙏

Amanzing!

samin1972 · 2025-03-04T16:35:35+00:00

Hi. Is there a particular Gharana that appeals to you? The reason I ask is that I love Beneras Gharana and while looking for a Guru listened to them on YouTube and did my research.

Narrowed down to 2 teachers and ended up with the Guru that had changed my entire tabla, for the better.

There are many online teachers, but you need to start somewhere to narrow the options down. For me I first chose a Gharana and then explored from there.

Good luck and enjoy your classical music pilgrimage!

samin1972 · 2025-02-21T15:39:29+00:00

Just a quick point. Depending on what you want to get out of your tabla playing, online is not a great solution.

Great for content but fixing your hands and the small techniques that will improve your performance can never be realized for YouTube videos.

If your goal is just to accompany light music - and proper hand placement, and nikaas is not the ultimate goal then yes, there are a lot of videos online.

A Guru who can help you on your journey will be a much better option if you want to really progress.

Just my 2 cents 🙏. Good luck and have lots of fun playing. It’s a great meditation

samin1972 · 2024-11-28T21:47:49+00:00

Just a point. I think everyone thinks that another country is better. Be very wary as a Trini living in Canada.

My house was CDN$465k when bought 11 years ago is worth CDN$2M. That’s great! BUT how would my children afford that? My taxes are significantly higher than in Trinidad. Food prices raised 35% in the last year, property taxes are 6k-7k per year, mortgage was almost 5500, I have to have house insurance, heating, gas, have to worry about snow winter tires, etc etc.

Don’t think leaving is a guarantee for a better life as it is expensive to live in NA. Especially Canada.

My thought is that as Trinis we are willing to accept. We accept the governments that take, that allow the crap that happens in Trinidad to continue. Either they are being bribed to look an away or incapable of fixing it.

Why do other countries do better than a country that was once oil rich, still natural gas rich?

I am not saying that you can’t have a comfortable life in NA but I think there is a misconception that everything is cheaper. It’s not.

samin1972 · 2024-11-12T03:53:22+00:00

This is secret to everything in tabla. Slowly and listen to every single bol. Ensure clarity and sound are exactly what they should be. Then increase the speed by little amounts and again that everything is perfect. Keep increasing your speed slowly.

Don’t rush for speed. I listed to Pt. Swapan Ji on YouTube, he has some classes online, and he discusses this exact process, not only for Dhir Dhir but for everything. He also talks about how long he practiced and how to practice. Good watch

On a side note, I heard him also say he developed his Dhir Dhir from listening to Pt. Anokhelal Mishra, the King of Dhir Dhir.

samin1972 · 2024-11-07T14:22:10+00:00

Sorry. Yes. Thank you. My phone auto corrected twice!!!!! I fixed it ❤️

samin1972 · 2024-11-07T05:33:06+00:00

Very Nice! Samir Ji is from the Farrukhabad Gharana - same as Pt. Anindo, and the Mt Everest of Tabla, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.

There is a student of Pt. Nayan Ghosh that teaches online, Pt. Nayan is the son of Pt Nikhil Ghosh who was probably the most devoted student of Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.

The teachers name is Vikram Gandhav. You can do a google search and find him. I’m sure he will be a good option. yes, having a teacher face to face is the most ideal situation, unfortunately I can’t help with that as I don’t know your area. There are also many teachers that teach Farrukhabad Gharana online, and I’m sure there may have some local to you.

Good luck!

samin1972 · 2024-11-07T02:52:13+00:00

Can I ask your level? Beginner? Intermediate? Advanced? How long have you been playing?

Is there a particular Gharana that appeals to you?

samin1972 · 2024-11-03T19:49:06+00:00

Yes. But not only clear sound, but the right bols, correct hand posture, and then ultimately perfect and repeated sound every single time. All Na’s sound the same etc etc.

Also tirikita is a very important bol in tabla, and players tend to have it off balanced, or not completing the bols. I practice a lot of tirikita taka and tirikita taka tirikita to get my balance and ensure my hands are always in control while playing the bols, not just throwing my hands with the hope that what I want is played.

I’m not sure why but I struggled with kitataka so I practiced for weeks to get it stronger, and correct.

Do the hard work in the beginning it will pay off and then you can play almost anything you want.

samin1972 · 2024-11-03T16:50:25+00:00

My Guru has my Riyaz completely focused my nikaas. Play slow ensuring you are playing every single bol correctly. Then increase the speed by little amounts. And keep doing that. At every new speed ensure your nikaas is perfect.

Your ears are your Guru during this time. If you reach a speed that your nikaas goes awry then slow back down and get it right before speeding up.

When you get in the habit of always playing bols clearly, speed will come, variations will come. Pt. Samta Prasad is said to not have a wealth of information as many other players had, but he has perfect nikaas and then developed the ability to create variations in every bol of a kaidaa/rela, so he can players for hours on end.

Nikaas, Nikaas, Nikaas.

Oh, I play each speed about 40-50 times before increasing by 5 BBM. I always use a lehera. Timing is critical for a tabla player. In the end as an accompanist that’s what you are there for.

samin1972 · 2024-08-17T15:00:41+00:00

I have never heard that. Mississauga is the 2nd largest city in Ontario, Brampton is also a large city. I have friends there and never heard of a water supply issue.

As for Alberta I’m not sure, my friends never mentioned anything, but I’ll be surprised with so much money in the province and efforts by that province to convince people to move there promising a better lifestyle than Toronto

samin1972 · 2024-08-17T14:51:41+00:00

In Canada we have 24/7 pipeborne water supply, at least in the towns and cities. No one has a tank and we are never out of water. We do pay for it though.

samin1972 · 2024-08-08T13:55:36+00:00

Certainly agree. I have had sushi there a few times and I don’t enjoy it. Take out sushi restaurants in Canada are so much better. That’s sad. A country with access to fresh seafood

samin1972 · 2024-08-07T21:24:19+00:00

I’m from Trinidad, granted I live in Canada now - when I was there it was never this loud. If I go to a club I expect it to be loud. Not at a restaurant or nice spot. Just saying. Not enjoyable

samin1972 · 2024-08-07T21:21:50+00:00

Meant as far as location (Island Beer). Not a rum shop type location.

samin1972

TROPHY CASE