---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-black-spot-on-a-tabla'
title: 'What is the black spot on a tabla?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/user/fce96177fd193d3a'
date: '2026-10-19T15:17:46+00:00'
type: website
summary: "The black spot on a tabla is the syahi, a disc of paste with iron filings and starch that makes the head's overtones harmonic."
tags:
  - 'Instruments & artforms'
image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
published: true
og:
  site_name: KalaSudha
  'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:type': image/svg+xml
  'image:alt': KalaSudha
---
 

 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What is the black spot on a tabla?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

The black spot on a **[tabla](/en-int/instrument/tabla)** is the syahi, a disc of loading paste, set in the centre of the dayan and off-centre on the bayan. Sources name starch or dough, iron filings or iron oxide, gum, and charcoal or soot among its ingredients. In 1920 Raman and Kumar showed that this loaded head gives harmonic overtones in the same relation to the fundamental as a string.



 

 Was this answer helpful? [  ](/en-int/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-972&destination=/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-black-spot-on-a-tabla)

 [  ](/en-int/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-972&destination=/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-black-spot-on-a-tabla)

 

 Thanks for your feedback!

 

 

## Related pages

 1 page mentions this question

 

 

###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Tabla The tabla is a pair of tuned hand drums from Hindustani music: a wooden dayan and a copper or brass bayan. It is played through spoken bols in six gharanas.     ](/en-int/instrument/tabla)
 
  

 

 

   [     Previous question What is the Benares gharana?  ](/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-benares-gharana) [  Next question What is the black spot on the mridangam?     ](/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-black-spot-on-the-mridangam)