The Tabala is the percussion instrument that originated along with the Khyal Indian classical music style. The Tabla is a drum-pair in which each drum is played by one hand. The bass drum is played by the left hand, the treble by the right hand. The bass drum - the bayan - is made of copper or brass, with a large skin top. The treble drum's body is made of Tun (Cedrela Tuna), or Shisham (Dalgergia Sissoo) or Khair (Iron Wood).

The goatskin in both drums wears a thick black disk, the Shiai. The Shiai is made of iron filing, black rock powder, ferric oxide powder and starch and it is stuck in the skin center to allow the emission of harmonics. The skin, tightened by camel skin braces, is tuned to the SA of the solo musician, with a PA and MA harmonic depending on the musician's scale. The Bayan can be tuned and made to play notes of the raga on the spot just by application of wrist pressure.