Introduction Background Figure 1. Mridangam and Tabla Construction Tone Figure 2. Questions arise as to the differences and similarities between the two. This article will concentrate upon the differences. The music of India is one of the oldest systems of music in the world.
Today there are two branches.
There is the Hindusthani sangeet of the North and the Carnatic sangeet in the south. Collectively these two limbs form the body of a musical tradition that is said to extend back several thousand years. Although there are many similarities between the two systems there are also differences. One of the differences is in the choice of rhythmic accompaniment . Tabla The Carnatic sangeet of southern India prefers a drum called mridangam.