The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular and religious music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. The term tabla is derived from a Sanskrit word which means "drum". Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of of a small right hand drum called Dayan and a larger metal one called bayan. The Dayan (right hand drum) is made of wood. The diameter at the membrane may run from just under five inches to over six inches. The bayan (left hand drum) generally made up of wood. The large black spot on tabla surfaces are a mixture of gum, soot, and iron filings. Their function is to create the bell-like timbre that is characteristic of the instrument. Tabla is made with alluring visual harmony enticing percussionists to experience the rhythms of tradition.