Documentation

Use Tabla Focus across app and web

Complete guide to using Tabla Focus

Community Note

This is a community effort to preserve compositions, directory listings, and announcements in service of the tabla tradition. Every submission is reviewed. We follow platform safety policy strictly: abusive, deceptive, or exploitative content is removed and can lead to immediate ban from submissions.

iOS App Path

Focus your daily riyaz

Start practice, track sessions, and use precision tools in one flow. Subscription options inside the app are monthly or annual.

1
Download from App Store
Install Tabla Focus from the App Store. Open the app and explore the home screen.
2
Start with Vocal Lehra
Tap Practice, select Vocal Lehra, choose a tala, and set your tempo. Visual markers keep you grounded in the tala cycle.
3
Browse the compositions library
Tap Library to browse compositions by tala, gharana, or form. Mark pieces as exploring, practicing, or performing.
4
Review your progress
Check Insights for your calendar heatmap, session history, and weekly patterns.

Download on App Store

Website Path

Read, explore, and contribute

The website is the editorial and community surface: long-form learning, verified resources, and moderated submissions.

Shared platform, different roles

Core community data is moderated on web and surfaced where it belongs.

Compositions

App + Website

Browse, submit, and suggest edits from the web. Approved updates flow to iOS.

Announcements

App + Website

Community announcements are reviewed before publishing and then available in both places.

Articles

App + Website

Article metadata and full detail are served to iOS from the website API endpoints.

Resources

Website

Curated external references live on the website for deep reading and discovery.

Guides

Website

Step-by-step practical guides stay on web as long-form reference material.

Getting Started

Tabla Focus brings together practice tools, community resources, and knowledge in one place. The iOS app provides lehra, tracking, and precision tools. The website hosts articles, guides, compositions, and community directory.

App

Requires iOS 17.0 or later. iPhone and iPad.

Website

This website provides in-depth articles, practical guides, curated resources, and community contributions. All reading material is free.

iOS App Features

Practice tools, precision instruments, and progress tracking.

Practice Tools

Vocal Lehra

Sung melodic accompaniment that replaces synthesized loops with the warmth of a live player. Set tempo to match each piece. Visual sam, taali, and khaali markers keep you grounded.

How to use: Open Practice → Vocal Lehra. Choose tala, set tempo, tap Play. Adjust volume with the slider.

Lehra Classic

Traditional synthesized lehra in all major talas. Adjustable pitch, tempo, and volume.

How to use: Open Practice → Lehra Classic. Select tala and pitch. Set tempo from 40–360 bpm.

Focus Protocol

Structured practice timer with silence, tanpura, and lehra phases. Builds concentration and session discipline.

How to use: Open Practice → Focus Protocol. Set session duration. Follow the three phases: silence, tanpura, lehra.

Baithak Challenges

Weekly practice cycles with guided themes and daily structure. Join active challenges or create your own.

How to use: Open Challenges → Browse active challenges. Tap Join to start. Check daily for new practice goals.

Precision Tools

Tabla Tuner

Pitch detection for tabla tuning. Real-time frequency display and target pitch guidance.

How to use: Open Tools → Tabla Tuner. Play the dayan center. Watch the pitch meter. Adjust gatta until the pitch stabilizes at your target.

Read the tuning guide →

Find Tempo

Tap or play audio to detect tempo in real time. Useful for learning recorded compositions.

How to use: Open Tools → Find Tempo. Tap the button or play audio. The app displays detected BPM.

Sound Check

Audio diagnostics to verify tone clarity, resonance, and balance between dayan and bayan.

How to use: Open Tools → Sound Check. Play each head. Review feedback on tone quality and balance.

Progress & Insights

Calendar Heatmap

Visual representation of your practice consistency. Each day shows total practice time.

How to use: Open Insights → Calendar. Tap any day to see session details.

Session History

Complete record of every practice session with timestamps, duration, and notes.

How to use: Open Insights → History. Scroll through past sessions. Tap to view full details.

Weekly Insights

Automated summary of weekly patterns: total time, session count, and consistency trends.

How to use: Open Insights → Summary. Review the current week and compare to previous weeks.

Compositions Library

Browse traditional compositions organized by tala, gharana, and form. Track your progress from exploration to performance.

•
Browse by category
Filter compositions by tala (teental, jhaptal, rupak), gharana (Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow, Benares, Farukhabad, Punjab), or form (kaida, tukra, tihai, paran, gat, rela).
•
Track mastery
Mark each composition as Exploring, Practicing, or Performing. Your library adapts as you grow.
•
Submit new compositions
Share compositions from your own repertoire. Submit through the website. All submissions are reviewed.

Browse compositions →

Website Navigation

What's where and how to find it.

Learn Hub

44 in-depth articles across 9 categories. Covers tala, gharanas, composition, practice methodology, and history.

→

How to use: Browse by category or use the featured section for recommended reading order. Each article includes related content and references.

✓9 categories from Getting Started to Performance
✓89,000+ words of research-backed content

Practical Guides

10 step-by-step guides for tuning, daily practice, instrument care, and maintenance.

→

How to use: Choose a guide based on your immediate need. Each guide is task-focused with clear instructions.

✓Tuning guide with pitch targets
✓Daily practice structure

Resources Directory

Curated external resources: forums, books, archives, tools, and learning platforms.

→

How to use: Filter by category or search by keyword. Each resource includes description and verification status.

✓10 categories from forums to academic research
✓Verified links and descriptions

Glossary

80+ tabla and Hindustani classical rhythm terms with clear, concise definitions.

→

How to use: Search for a term or browse by category. Each definition includes related terms and usage context.

Community Directory

Interactive map of teachers, repair shops, venues, and institutions worldwide.

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How to use: Use the map to find nearby resources or browse the full list. Submit new entries or suggest edits.

Compositions

Community-built library of traditional compositions in standard bol notation.

→

How to use: Filter by taal, gharana, or type. Submit new compositions or suggest edits to existing entries.

Events & Announcements

Workshops, concerts, and tabla community events from teachers and organizations.

→

How to use: Browse upcoming events. Submit new events through the website.

Where to Find Specific Content

Quick reference for common questions.

Learning tabla basics

Start with the Getting Started category in Learn Hub→

Practice structure and methodology

Read the Daily Practice guide or Practice & Development articles→

Tuning help

Use the Tuning guide on the website and Tabla Tuner tool in the app→

Understanding tala

Browse the Tala & Rhythm category→

Finding a teacher near me

Use the interactive Directory map→

Learning composition notation

Browse the Compositions library and read notation articles→

Troubleshooting instrument issues

Check the Instrument Care category and practical guides→

Gharana history and lineage

Read the Context & Culture category→

External resources and tools

Browse the Resources directory→

Community Contributions

How to submit compositions, directory entries, and event announcements.

Tabla Focus is built with the community. Anyone can submit new content or suggest edits to existing entries. All submissions are reviewed before publication.

How to Submit

Submit compositions

Visit the Compositions page. Tap the plus button. Fill out the form with title, bol notation, tala, and gharana. Submit for review.

Visit page →

Add directory entries

Visit the Directory page. Tap the plus button. Add teacher, shop, or venue details including location. Submit for review.

Visit page →

Submit events

Visit the Events page. Tap the plus button. Include event details, date, and organizer info. Submit for review.

Visit page →

Suggest edits

On any composition, directory entry, or event page, tap 'Suggest edit'. Propose your changes. Edits are reviewed before publishing.

Moderation Process

Every submission goes through review before appearing publicly.

1
Submit your content (composition, directory entry, or event)
2
Submission enters pending status
3
Admin reviews for accuracy, completeness, and policy compliance
4
If approved, content appears on the website and syncs to iOS app
5
If rejected, submitter is notified with reason

Quality Guidelines

Keep submissions factual, respectful, and accurate.

•Use standard bol notation for compositions
•Verify all factual details before submitting
•Keep directory entries professional and respectful
•No promotional or commercial language
•No abusive, deceptive, or exploitative content

Support & Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to resolve them.

Common App Issues

App won't open or crashes on launch

Update to the latest version from the App Store. Restart your device. If the issue persists, reinstall the app.

Lehra audio is out of sync or delayed

Check your device's audio settings. Disable Bluetooth audio. Try wired headphones or built-in speakers.

Can't find my practice history

Open Insights → History. If sessions are missing, check iCloud sync in Settings → iCloud.

Tabla Tuner not detecting pitch

Play louder and closer to the device microphone. Reduce background noise. Ensure microphone permissions are enabled.

Compositions not loading

Check internet connection. Pull down to refresh. If offline, only cached compositions appear.

Subscription issues or billing questions

Subscriptions are managed by Apple. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions to manage or cancel.

Website Issues

Map not loading on Directory page

Refresh the page. Check internet connection. Clear browser cache. Try a different browser.

Search not returning results

Check spelling. Try broader search terms. Filter by category first.

Can't submit compositions or directory entries

Ensure all required fields are filled. Check internet connection. Try again in a few minutes.

Still need help?

Submit a support request and include details about your issue, device model, and iOS version.

Open support Download on App Store