1. Seated position: Sit on a carpet or mat with your legs crossed. Place the tabla on your right knee, with the dayan placed on top.
2. Holding the tabla: Hold the tabla with your left hand, with your thumb on the dayan and your fingers on the sides of the tabla.
3. Right-hand technique: Hold the right-hand stick (tihai) between your thumb and index finger, with the other fingers curled in a fist. Strike the dayan with the tihai using a downward motion, and the bayan with an upward motion.
4. Left-hand technique: Place your left index finger on the center of the dayan, with your thumb on the side. Use the left-hand fingers to play notes on the bayan, by pressing down on the drumhead.
Playing the tabla
The tabla is played in a variety of ways, including:
- Dha: A single stroke played with the right-hand stick.
- Tin: A double stroke played with the right-hand stick.
- Dhin: A triple stroke played with the right-hand stick.
- Na: A single stroke played with the left-hand fingers.
- Tun: A double stroke played with the left-hand fingers.
- Ke: A triple stroke played with the left-hand fingers.
Taals (rhythmic cycles)
The tabla is played in a variety of rhythmic cycles, called taals. Some common taals include:
- Tintal: A 16-beat cycle.
- Jhaptaal: A 10-beat cycle.
- Ektaal: A 12-beat cycle.
Playing in a group
The tabla is often played in a group, with the tabla player accompanying other musicians such as the sitar or sarangi. The tabla player provides the rhythmic foundation for the music, and also plays improvised solos.