Thavil is the percussion instrument used to accompany the
Nadaswaram band. It somewhat resembles the Mridangam in shape. Percussion is produced
by playing the right head with the right hand wrist and fingers and the left head struck
with a stick held in the left hand.
Thavil is made of a cylindrical shell hollowed out of
a solid block of wood. Skins strained by means of leather thongs are seen stretched over
hemp hoops fastened to the shell on either sides. A band of leather passes round the shell
along the middle over the braces that serves to tighten the instrument upto the desired
pitch. Thavil, owing to its outdoor music is more ideal for outdoor music.
Thavil is the percussion instrument used to accompany the
Nadaswaram band. It somewhat resembles the Mridangam in shape. Percussion is produced
by playing the right head with the right hand wrist and fingers and the left head struck
with a stick held in the left hand. 