Tabla tuner: dayan on your Sa
The tabla is a pair of drums, and only one of them is tuned to a note. The wooden dayan, played with the dominant hand, has a definite pitch thanks to the black syahi in the middle of its head: it is tuned to the soloist's Sa, and sometimes to Pa. The larger metal or clay bayan has no target note: the player changes its pitch all the time by pressing the head with the heel of the hand, so it only needs an even tension around the rim.
Dayan diameter and approximate highest pitch
One maker's approximate chart of the highest comfortable pitch; every dayan can also be tuned lower. Octave numbers follow Courtney's C ≈ 261 Hz measurement; equal temperament, A4 = 440 Hz.
| Head diameter | Highest pitch (range) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 in (about 12.7 cm) | E4 – F4 | 329.63 – 349.23 |
| 5¼ in (about 13.3 cm) | D4 – E4 | 293.66 – 329.63 |
| 5½ in (about 14.0 cm) | C4 – D4 | 261.63 – 293.66 |
| 5¾ in (about 14.6 cm) | A3 – C4 | 220.00 – 261.63 |
| 6 in (about 15.2 cm) | G3 – A3 | 196.00 – 220.00 |
India Instruments — Dayan NBB Premium (diameter and maximum pitch)
How to use it
- Choose the profile with the soloist's Sa, or the free profile to set any note, octave and cents. Press Hear target to compare by ear.
- Tap Turn on microphone and strike a light Na (or Tin) on the rim, in front of one of the 16 straps. Do not use the Tun stroke for tuning.
- Move the wooden blocks (gatta) for coarse changes: hammering them down raises the pitch, up lowers it. Then tap the braided ring (gajra): a stroke from above raises the pitch, a stroke from below lowers it.
- Repeat the Na in front of every strap until all 16 points read the same note, then confirm by ear against a drone on Sa.
Help and explanations
Choose a profile with your Sa. A standard dayan of 5¼ to 5½ inches is easily tuned to C, which is why this page opens on C4 (261.63 Hz), with C♯4 next. Smaller drums go higher and larger ones lower, from about G3 to F4. The final check is always by ear, against a tanpura or a drone on Sa.
Why the reading may show the fifth or the octave
The Na stroke used for tuning has almost no fundamental. In his measurements of a tabla tuned to C, David Courtney found a strong third harmonic at 783 Hz, close to G5, while the pitch you hear is C4. The tuner can therefore show the fifth (G5 for Sa = C, G♯5 for Sa = C♯) or the octave (C5) of your Sa. That does not mean the drum is wrong: compare the note name with the target and confirm by ear.
The Tun stroke behaves differently. Its lowest vibration usually sounds about one step above the tuning note, and the gap varies from drum to drum, so the tuner will mislead you if you tune by Tun. Use Na or Tin. If a reading wobbles or shows two pitches about a semitone apart, the tension is uneven around the head: look for two high and two low zones in a cross.
Choosing a Sa your dayan can reach
One maker's approximate chart relates the head diameter to the highest pitch each dayan reaches comfortably: 5 inches E to F, 5¼ D to E, 5½ C to D, 5¾ A to C, 6 inches G to A. Every dayan can also be played lower, and the head and syahi change the result, so treat the chart as a guide, not a rule. The octave numbers come from Courtney's measurement of a tabla in C at about 261 Hz.
If the soloist's Sa is out of reach, tune the dayan to Pa instead, a fifth above Sa: the Pa profile shows D4 for a Sa of G. Do not force a small drum far above its range. For the bayan, only make the tension even; some players leave it a fourth, a fifth or an octave below the dayan, but most do not tune it to a note.
Tips
- Strike only the gajra and the gattas with the hammer, never the head or the rim: a blow on the skin can ruin it for good.
- If you are a beginner, ask your teacher to show you the hammer strokes first; wrong strokes can damage the drum.
- Never let water get under the syahi. Keep the tabla away from damp and tune in a quiet room.
Frequently asked questions
What note should my tabla be tuned to?
To the Sa of the singer or soloist, sometimes to Pa. A standard 5¼ to 5½ inch dayan reaches C or C♯ easily, but follow the Sa of the music you accompany.
Why does the tuner show G when my tabla is tuned to C?
The Na stroke has a strong third harmonic, a fifth and an octave above the note you hear. A G5 reading on a dayan in C is normal; check the drum by ear against a drone.
Do I need to tune the bayan to a note?
No. Most players do not, because its pitch changes constantly with the pressure of the hand. Just keep its tension even all around the head.
How do I know which scale my tabla is in?
Strike a light Na on the rim and read the note in the free profile, keeping the harmonics in mind. The diameter gives a first idea: a 5½-inch dayan reaches up to about C to D and can also be tuned lower.