Dhadd: India musical instrument

The dhadd is an hourglass-shaped traditional musical instrument that is of the Punjab origin. The musical instrument is mainly used by the Dhadi singers. The musical instrument is also used by other folk music player of the region.

source of picture: sikhsaaj.blogspot.com

The dhadd is manufactured of wood with the thin waist of the instrument like the hourglass. The skin on the both sides of the instrument is tightened with the use of ropes, and that assists in the holding of the musical instrument tightly too. The design of the musical instrument is analogous to other Indian drums: the sophisticated Idakka, the simple Damru and the Udakai. The damru has knotted cords that can stuck the instrument’s both sides but the dhadd does not have any cord. The damru is performed by shaking or spinning quickly so that the tautted cords stuck the both sides and as well played with a stick sometimes. The Udukai and the dhadd have analogous style of playing them, but the social significance of the both instruments is different.

The dhadd is performed by tapping or and stucking the fingers of the hand on one side of the instrument. The pitch of the medieval drum is upturned by compressing a small cloth band enfolded around the instrument’s waist. Open and closed sounds can be manufactured from the musical instrument.

The dhadd is very closely related with and most used by the dhadi singers that sings folk music, religious music, and the warrior’s ballads and is known to be used along with the sārangī.