Dhol

Dhol

The Dhol is a drum widely used in the Indian subcontinent, especially the Punjab region, and especially among the Sikhs of East Punjab.

The Dhol drum dates back to the 15th century.  It was probably introduced to the Indian subcontinent through the Persian drum called the Dohol.  There is evidence which describes the use of “dohol” in the orchestra of the Mogul emperor Akbar.

The Dhol is a double-sided barrel drum played mostly as an accompanying instrument to the traditional Punjabi dance of Bhangra, and the religious music of Sufism, Qawwali.   The typical sizes of the drum vary slightly from region to region.  In Punjab, the Dhol remains large and bulky to produce the preferred loud bass.  The drum consists of a wooden barrel with animal hide or synthetic skin stretched over its open ends, covering them completely.  These skins can be stretched or loosened with a tightening mechanism made up of either interwoven ropes, or nuts and bolts.  Tightening or loosening the skins subtly alters the pitch of the drum sound.  The stretched skin on one of the ends is thicker and produces a deep, low frequency sound and the other thinner one produces a higher frequency sound.  In contemporary Punjabi music, dhols with synthetic, or plastic, treble skins are very common.  A smaller cousin of the Dhol is called dholak or dholki.  People who play Dhol are called “Dhol Players” or “Dholis”.

The drum is played using two wooden sticks, usually made out of bamboo and cane wood.  The most common rhythm played on the Dhol is the Chaal, which consists of 8 beats per measure.  The stick used to play the bass side of the drum is a bit thicker and is bent in a quarter-circular arc on the end that strikes the drum.  The other stick is much thinner and flexible and used to play the higher note end of the drum.  The drum is slung over the neck of the player with a strap usually made of ropes or woven cloth.  The surface of the wooden barrel can be decorated with engraved or painted patterns.

Dhol was a popular musical instrument in both formal and informal dance performances for decades.  Dhol players were once sought-after for occasions of celebrations, such as weddings in India.  However, since the 1980’s, the introduction of electronic devices has led to a decline in the Dhol Players importance though formal Bhangra performances still involve traditional Dhol.  Dhol music is still important in the studio recordings of present day Raas/Garba and Bhangra music artists.  The Dhol is popular not only in North and West India and Pakistan, but is much-loved throughout India, Fiji, United Kingdom, Australia and North America.

The Dhol is most commonly associated with Punjabi music and dance.  It was used in war by the Sikhs and later to celebrate successful harvests by Jatt landowners.  This drum became the ground roots of Bhangra  music (folk music) as we know it today.  The Dhol drum is a very common instrument played in the regions of Punjab in India and Pakistan.  From North India, the Dhol spread to other parts of the Indian subcontinent as well.  Apart from Punjabi music, Dhol has been adapted into the music of other regions throughout South Asia and abroad.  Nowadays, it is very popular in modern Punjabi music.
When doing Attan, the cultural Pathan/Pashtun dance, Dhol is the main musical instrument.  Attan is done in accordance to the sound of the Dhol.