A bol is a standardized

mnemonic A mnemonic device ( ), memory trick or memory device is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval in the human memory, often by associating the information with something that is easier to remember. It makes use of e ...

syllable used in

North Indian classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' literally means classica ...

to define the tala, or rhythmic pattern. Bol is derived from the Hindi word ''bolna'' (बोलना), which means "to speak." One who learns to play the

tabla A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...

pakhavaj The ''pakhavaj'' is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South Asian double-headed drums. Its older forms were made with clay. It is the percussion instrumen ...

(or pakhawaj) drum is taught to recite the rhythms as bols, which can be quite complex. Bol is analogous to

konnakol Konnakol (also spelled Konokol, Konakkol, Konnakkol) ( koṉṉakkōl) () is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. Konnakol is the spoken component of solkattu, which refers to a combination of konnako ...

, which is used to recite rhythms for the

mridangam The ''mridangam'' is an ancient percussion instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion in ...

drum in

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

, which is South Indian classical music.

References

External links

KKSongs Talamala - Tabla Bol Reference
has recordings of tabla bols.
Instruments in Depth: Tabla: Drums of North India
an online feature fro
Bloomingdale School of Music
(March, 2008)

contains detailed instructions on producing each bol. {{Hindustani Classical Music page end Tala (music)

See also

References

External links