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url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/how-do-you-play-the-tavil'
title: 'How do you play the tavil?'
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date: '2026-10-19T15:19:03+00:00'
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summary: 'A tavil player plays the right head with the hand and fingers and the left head with a short stick, the drum hung from the shoulder.'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How do you play the tavil?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

In the standard hold, the right hand plays the **[tavil](/instrument/tavil)**'s right head with the hand, wrist and fingers, and the left hand strikes the left head with a stick. The stick, the kuchi, is short, thick and hard, cut from local wood such as portia. The player sits or stands with the drum hung from the shoulder on a cloth strap, which suits the open-air performance of the temple ensemble.



 

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## Related pages

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###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Tavil The tavil is the South Indian barrel drum of the periya melam, played beside the nadaswaram at temples and weddings: double-headed, with finger strokes on one…     ](/en-in/instrument/tavil)
 
  

 

 

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