I just bought my first set of tabla, and they arrived with loose heads. I read that to tighten the bayan (it is loose to the point of not really being resonant at all), one inserts gatta. My drums did not come with any. Can I just get some wooden dowels at the hardware store adn use them, and if so, what size? Or is there something else I ought to do?
Wooden Dowels will be fine. Most in expensive. The size should be about 1.3 cm in diametre (approx 1/2 an inch in diameter)
However, if it is really loose I would consider getting the baya pulled
hope that helps
