Bol – बोल

Quick Definition: The spoken syllables of the tabla and their corresponding strokes, phrases, and compositions on the drums.

Literal Meaning: word; speech; sound

About Bol

The term bol comes from the the Hindi verb bolnā (बोलना), meaning “to speak”. In classical tabla, bol has a number of meanings which all relate to the spoken language.

Below are the most common meanings of bol:

  • The spoken syllables and their representative drum strokes: for example, the syllables dha and dhin may each be called bol. Note that both the syllable and the stroke on the drum are called bol.
  • A group of strokes (phrase) such as tirakita.
  • An entire composition such as a kayda, gat, or tukra.

You will also hear the term "main bol", which refers to the theme of a theme-and-variation type composition, such as a kayda, rela, or bant.

Or you might hear someone talk about a player’s “sense of bol”, which could mean their knowledge of the tabla language, or the depth of phrasing and composition in their performance.

See the Bol Section for a complete list of individual bols and common bol phrases of classical tabla.

Video: Yogesh Samsi demonstrates syllables of the tabla.