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url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-difference-between-the-pakhawaj-and-the-tabla'
title: 'What is the difference between the pakhawaj and the tabla?'
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date: '2026-10-19T15:00:24+00:00'
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summary: "The pakhawaj is one two-headed barrel drum whose bass takes fresh dough; the tabla's bass is usually metal with a permanent syahi."
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What is the difference between the pakhawaj and the tabla?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

The **[pakhawaj](/en-gb/instrument/pakhawaj)** is a single two-headed barrel drum, played lying horizontally with both hands. The tabla's bass drum is usually metal and carries a permanent syahi, so it needs no dough, while the pakhawaj bass takes fresh wheat dough before each performance. The tabla largely replaced the pakhawaj in khyal and lighter forms, and its repertoire and syllables, parans included, draw on the pakhawaj.



 

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## Related pages

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###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Pakhawaj The pakhawaj is a double-headed North Indian barrel drum, the primary percussion of dhrupad and dhamar. It is played horizontally, in deep bols, with fresh…     ](/en-gb/instrument/pakhawaj)
 
  

 

 

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