Most people when told that I play the tabla invariably ask me if I can sing or play the guitar as well...To set the record straight, I suck at both. The only one who thought that I sung well was err...my ex...no wonder :) That however has led me to long and hard about the connection between rythm and notes. Having been into music for a while, specifically percussion, I can safely conclude that anything to do with notes or singing or the like is totally beyond me. They are all in my head, probably in more detail than most people but then, thats where they stay. The first (and last) time i picked up the Mandolin, it felt like some archaic bamboo. That was it as far as my efforts with notes was concerned.

The only one who I have known to be as comfortable with notes as beats is the Indian Ocean Tabalchi Asheem Chakravarty. I still remember his performance at Pragati MAidan in college. Needless to say, it was a big deal. The guy sung classical while playing some seriouis stuff. Incredible fusion...Such are a rarity. Which makes me believe that percussionists and "Stringists" differ in their musical psyche. Hell even guitarists are like that. Base guitarists are known to be the eccentrics of a band. Like goalies for football teams. However, in the end, it doesn't matter. All good musicians have it in their head...And they are damn good at what they do.