Q&A for How to Play Tabla

There are limited amounts of sounds you can play on tablas, but you could find and watch videos and learn from them.

The Tabla, the most common instrument in North India, is always played with two drums. These are the Dayan or Dahina and the Bayan or Dugga. The Dayan literally means "right", as this is the drum that is traditionally played with the right hand. Because the Dayan has more intricate sounds, left-hand players would play Dayan with their left hand by switching the drums around.

While playing NA, your tip of index finger should touch the rim of the tabla.

When playing tabla for religious songs, simply count the beats in the song, and play a bol with the same number of beats. This applies to any song you want to play. Write down these bols. Make different bols for each number of beats, and be creative.

This depends on the composition being played. An experienced instructor should explain to you which sound is most appropriate in the particular rhythm or piece that you are playing.

No. You should be comfortable while playing the tabla.

The tabla is difficult as it involves rigorous training of your hands and also has various forms of playable aspects like kayda, gat, rela, tukda, paran, gat tukda, chakradhaar, etc.

The white part of the Tabla is known as Maidan. Your hands should be placed on the Maidaan.

As dhe is played beating Na and Ge together as the dhe is played beating Ge and Thin together and it will be different for each garanas.