Krsna Kirtana Songs est.
2001 www.kksongs.org
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Dholaki (Nal)
The dholaki, or nal, is a drum
commonly played in Gujarat and Maharashtra,
especially in folk music. It is a mixture between a tabla
and dholak. The entire body is made of wood. The
treble head is similar to the tabla, though it lacks
an outer playing rim (kinnar) and a traditional gajara (outer tuning braid). It sounds like a high pitched tabla head with less sustain. The bass head resembles a
refined version of a dholak bass head. It has no syahi, but a paste of tar and iron, known as dholak masala, is applied on the
inside to provide its distinctive dholak bass sound.
Unlike its treble, the dholaki’s bass has a gajara.
UPDATED: March 12, 2012