A bol is a standardized
mnemonic
A mnemonic ( ) device, or memory device, is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval (remembering) in the human memory for better understanding.
Mnemonics make use of elaborative encoding, retrieval cues, and imag ...
syllable used in
North Indian classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani language, Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is ...
to define the
tala, or rhythmic pattern. Bol is derived from the Hindi word ''bolna'' (बोलना), which means "speak." One who learns to play the
tabla
A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల ...
or
pakhavaj
The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South Asi ...
(or pakhawaj) drum is taught to recite the rhythms as bols, which can be quite complex.
Bol is analogous to
konnakol, which is used to recite rhythms for the
mridangam
The mridangam is a percussion instrument of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion instrument. A related instrument is the ...
drum in
Carnatic music
Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
, which is South Indian classical music.
See also
*
Konakkol
Konnakol (also spelled Konokol, Konakkol, Konnakkol) ( ta, கொன்னக்கோல் koṉṉakkōl) ( ml, വായ്ത്താരി) is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. Konnakol is th ...
*
Kuchi shōga
, also known as kuchi showa or kuchi shoka, is an educational musical notation for traditional Japanese drums, particularly the taiko and the tsuzumi.
''Kuchi shōga'' phoneticizes (that is, phonetically articulates) drum strokes using Japanese ...
*
Counting (music)
In music, counting is a system of regularly occurring sounds that serve to assist with the performance or audition of music by allowing the easy identification of the beat. Commonly, this involves verbally counting the beats in each measure as th ...
References
External links
KKSongs Talamala - Tabla Bol Referencehas 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)