Dholak

Picture of Dholak

Dholak is a very popular folk drum of northern India.  It is barrel shaped with a simple membrane on the right hand side; basically it is just a smaller version of the dhol.  The left hand is also a single membrane with a special application on the inner surface.  This application is a mixture of tar, clay and sand (dholak masala) which lowers the pitch and provides a well-defined tone.  There are two ways of tightening the dholak.  Sometimes they are laced with rope, in which case, a series of metal rings are pulled to tighten the instrument.  Sometimes metal turnbuckles are employed.  It is said that this instrument used to occupy a position of considerable prestige.  Today it is merely relegated to filmi and folk music.