Dholak

The dholak (or dholaki ) is an instrument with percussion north of the India, Pakistan and Nepal. The nâl is a more modern version.

Stringed-instrument trade

It is a small drum (membranophone with two skins) out of barrel, lying. Of a diameter from 15 to 30 cm, it is out of wood of tun or mango tree. The skins are maintained wedged by iron circles which themselves are tended by cords which surround the instrument by connecting them between them. Â each crossing of cords, there is a metal ring which can slip in order to retighten the skins or to grant them. There is no black pastille, as on the Mridang.

The skins of the nâl are maintained thanks to screws (as for the Bongo S or Conga S). They comprise black pastilles like the Khol. There is often a handle of transport fixed on the body of the instrument.

Play

One plays about it sitted or upright (with a thin strap), by striking the skins with the fingers of the hands. The skin of the front face is finer and opera hat thus more; that of the back face thicker and is tended. Also the left hand can achieve sempiternal the sound " woop" Indian Music by supporting all there while making it slip, the palm, which marks the beat. The right hand is thus freer to follow the variations of the melody.

The dholak is very widespread in all the sub-continent and accompanies much by itinerant singers or folk groups. One finds it in many houses in India, because it is also the instrument of predilection of the meetings of women, who play it while singing. It is also an instrument which one hears much in the film music and the music Bhangra. It is the most common percussion in India. It is an instrument rather simple and easy to play, but it can also become frightening between certain tested hands. There are alternatives much broader, in Bengal in particular, called Dhôl or Dohol.

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