tabla

American  

[tah-bluh, tuhb-luh] / ˈtɑ blə, ˈtʌb lə /

noun

1. a small drum or pair of drums of India tuned to different pitches and played with the hands.

---

tabla British  

/ ˈtɑːblɑː, ˈtʌblə /

noun

1. a musical instrument of India consisting of a pair of drums whose pitches can be varied

---

Etymology

Origin of tabla

1860–65; earlier tubla < Hindi tablā < Arabic ṭabla, derivative of ṭabl drum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tabla

The saxophonist highlights previously unreleased recordings of his trio with tabla master Zakir Hussain, who died in 2024, and drummer Eric Harland on an album of marvelous musical interplay.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Yet Mr. Lloyd’s fascination has been particularly focused and personal, beginning in Los Angeles in 1957, when he first heard two legendary musicians, sitarist Ravi Shankar and tabla player Alla Rakha, in concert.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Classical training came early - he learnt tabla alongside vocal training - but so did exposure to popular music.

From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026

“Murmurs” is ultimately through with a rousing tabla and drum set dialogue at the end, reminiscent of his father and Shankar’s gripping finales.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025

One boy played the sitar, one played a tabla.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani