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title: 'How do you tune a tabla?'
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summary: "The tabla's dayan is tuned by moving its wooden blocks for coarse changes and tapping the gajra with a hammer for fine tuning, usually to Sa."
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  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How do you tune a tabla?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 A **[tabla](/instrument/tabla)**'s right-hand drum, the dayan, is tuned in two stages: the eight wooden gatta under the straps are moved up or down for coarse changes, and the braided gajra is struck with a small heavy hammer for fine tuning. The dayan is usually tuned to the soloist's Sa. Learn the process from a teacher before using the hammer.



 

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 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Tabla The tabla is a pair of tuned hand drums from Hindustani music: a wooden dayan and a copper or brass bayan. It is played through spoken bols in six gharanas.     ](/en-int/instrument/tabla)
 
  

 

 

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