A tabla artist presents different alankars such as peshkar, uthan, kaida, rela, gatt, tukra, paran, chakradar etc. in different ways, different lays to showcase his talent. This presentation is called tabla solo or lehra. In general, it is noticed that tabla or mridangam etc. follows vocal or a lead instrument such as a violin or a sitar. But in tabla solo, such instruments - additionally harmonium follow the tabla.
A tabla solo player must note a few things mentioned below:
a) The accompanist should play only a single raga piece over and over again which matches the taal. If it is followed well, it would be easier to decipher the different bibhag, tali, khali etc. from the solo. The significance of this lehra gat is that it does not have an antara and usually most of the matras have only single swar. The way of playing the lehra gat over and over again is called nagma or lehra pakad.
b) The solo player should start with bilambit lay and then he/she should increase it to madhya and drut lay.
c) According to Dilli and Ajrara baj system, peshkar should be played in the beginning in bilambit lay. But in purab baj, uthan is played along with long tukda in the beginning. However, in general, in bilambit lay, kaida, its palta etc. are played. Then in madhalay, paran, gat, chakradar, tukda, prakars of theka, rela etc. are played in sequence.
d) The posture of the player should be straight and comfortable.
