Should I buy a copper or a brass bayan?

Brass is the most common metal for the tabla's bayan, and copper is more expensive and generally considered the best. Bayan bodies are also made of steel, iron sheet, aluminium, bronze, clay or wood, and museum examples include chromed copper and tinned copper. Judge the pair as a whole: David Courtney advises learners to avoid a cheap pair, because a poor instrument makes learning hard.