I have a bit of a different take on this. I say it just all depends! I have a 5.25” that I keep in C#. But C# relative to what? To itself or my tanpura if C# is the tonic. At this pitch and this Sa, my tun plays a perfect D# in just intonation. This tuning also works perfectly with A# or D# Sa if all the raga intervals are from the straight forward 12 tone ratios. I have to get pretty finicky with my tanpura tuning depending on what’s going on but it’s a fairly versatile table. It can work with some various Sa ragas utilizing different divisions.

I have a 5.75” that I keep at A# but not relative to an A# Sa because my tun ends up being a Carnatic R3, but I don’t ever play raga tunings that utilize this tone. I find it annoying that this particular skin doesn’t play shuddha Re relative to itself. This tabla ends up being very nearly in tune with respect to a D# Sa. Of course this means I basically don’t use the tabla unless the scale uses the 5th of the D# tonic. 

I play the tanpura as much as I play tabla so being really sensitive to harmonics and their relationships, I’m sure I’m overly picky about my tabla tunings.

I would be a happy man if a tabla could be made to produce a komal re tun but alas.. 

I’ve always wondered what determines the frequency differential between ta and tun. It must be either the mass of the pudi relative to the mass of the skin, or the diameter of the rim of the shell, or I suppose something else entirely. Anyone know by chance?

I kind of think it may be more the rim. And if so, I also figure that to get a komal re tun that the rim would have to be so thick that it would just sound like shit. Or if it‘s the mass of the pudi, then it would have to be stupid thick, and probably be applied so that it takes up the entire space of the maidan, maybe even going up under the chat. Just one big pudi. If that’s even what the deterring factor is. I have no idea but something clearly is responsible, otherwise the ratio between ta and tun would be consistent for every tabla.

One more thing, and lending to the theory that the pudi mass is the biggest practical determining factor. Unless it’s coincidence or something unrelated, every thick skinned pudi I’ve used has a shorter frequency differential between ta and tun. For this reason I’ve always preferred thinner ones which always give me a perfect shuddha re relative to the ta pitch. 

I love playing tabla. Always have and always will, but something that will irk me for life is what feels to me like the ta/tun conundrum. In my musical life, I tend to enjoy playing scales that utilize the minor second. Sadly, no tabla will ever be able to be tuned to the tonic of those scales..