Rajeev Shukla1, B.C. Yadav2*
1Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow-226010, U.P., India
2Nanomaterials and Sensors Research Laboratory, Department of Physics,Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow 226025, UP, India
Cite this article: Shukla, R., Yadav, B.C. 2026. Verification of Raman’s observations about the Indian Percussion Instruments. J. Appl. Sci. Innov. Technol. 5 (1), 40-49.
Abstract
Tabla is a highly significant percussion instrument, originally from northern part of India. It is mainly used to accompany vocal, instrumental and dance music. It has two parts as dayan/ Tabla (right hand drum) and dagga/ bayan (left hand drum). Tabla produces different sounds from its both parts (Dayan and Bayan), which are called as ‘alphabets’, `bol’ or syllables. The art of a Tabla player is to selectively excite and suppress mechanical vibrations by sophisticated striking and fingering techniques. Any musical sound, even a single note from an instrument, contains multiple frequencies component, where some are inharmonic and do not follow integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. The unique acoustic characteristics of the percussion drums Mridangam and Tablawere first reported by the great physicist C.V. Raman. He reported that overtones produced by the sound of these drums are in an integer ratio as are the overtones of a vibrating string. The harmonic character of Tabla syllables was further modified by different scientists and researchers. The relation of fundamental and overtones of the sound of Tabla is a very important factor to analyze the physical characteristics of the syllables produced by Tabla. The purpose of this research work is to verify Raman’s observation on Tabla harmonics. Overtone relationships, harmonic tendencies and traditional beliefs were examined by spectral analysis of Tabla syllables using 3D spectrum. This affects acoustic modelling, which will be useful in designing of percussion instruments.
Keywords: Mechanics of a stretched membrane, Spectral frequency graph sub-harmoni, ADSR, Tabla
Scope: Physical Sciences
References:
Banerjee, B.M., Dipali Nag, 1989. A Comparison of Acoustic Characters of Sounds from Indian Drums. J.Acous. Soc. India. 17 (3&4) 295-298.
Banerjee, B.M.1989. Research on Musical Acoustics in Sangeet Research Academy, J.Acous. Soc.India, 17 (3&4) 25-30.
Courtney, D.R., 1999. The multi-layered composite membrane design and construction. J. Sangeet Res. Acad. 13 (1), 1-5.
Paranjape, S.S., 2015. Bharatiya Sangita Ka Itihaas, Chaukhamba, Vidyabhawan, Varanasi, 6-7.
Raman, C.V., S. Kumar, 1920. Musical Drum with Harmonic Overtones, Nature. 500, 104.
Raman, C.V., 1934. The Indian Musical Drums, Proc. Indian Acad. of Science. 1A, 179-188.
Resnick, R., Halliday, D., Krane, K.S., 1994. Physics 4th Edition, Volume I, John Wiley Sons, 418,
Rossing, T.D.1992. Acoustics of Drums, Physics Today, Woodbury, NY: American Institute of Physics.
Sharma, B.S. ‘Taal Prakash’ 1987, 17-18
Sharma, S., 1986. Bhartiya Sangeet Ek VaigyanikVishlaishan, T.N. Bhargav and Sons, Allahabad, 5-6/ 66-67.
Siddharthan, R., Chaterjee, P., Tripathi, V., 2019. A Study of Harmonic overtones Produced in Indian Drums, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
Venkataraman, G., 2005. Raman and his effect, Chapter – Science is a Pastime, Universities Press, Hyderabad, P-17, 19.
Verma, H.C., 1996. Concepts of Physics Ed. 1, reprint 1996, Bharti Bhawan, Patna, P-342.
