Skin membranes, often made from cow or buffalo hide, cover both ends of the instrument. The instrument is played using two drumsticks with covered beaters that produce a sound which is not overly bright, yet certainly loud. Larger versions of the tanggu can be more than a meter in diameter with the smaller version between 20 and 30 centimeters in diameter.

Four rings are attached to the body of the tanggu, allowing the instrument to be suspended vertically in a frame. The tanggu is traditionally used with other percussion instruments such as the luo and bo in folk festivals and celebrations, as well as in ensembles and accompaniments.