tabla

The term refers specifically to the pair of drums as a single musical unit. While the set consists of two distinct drums—the dayan (right) and the bayan (left)—the word tabla is used collectively to describe the instrument and the art of playing it.

In a cultural context, the word is often associated with Hindustani classical music. It is rarely used in a generic sense to describe any drum, but specifically denotes this unique percussion system from the Indian subcontinent.