When playing, the drum is placed horizontally on a trapezoidal drum stand, with a height of 150 cm. The player plays with a chime in each hand. Usually, the left hand hits a fixed rhythm, and the right hand hits a variety of flower points. There are drums with various rhythms in the folk. There are drum hearts, drum rims and drum frames in the striking parts, which emit sounds such as "dong, cut, da" respectively.

The drummer dances while beating. This is the "Monkey Dance" of the Miao people. There are various forms of single dance, duet and multi-person dance. The trombone, suona, snare drum, gong, cymbal and other musical instruments were accompanied by the monkey drum, and the scene was lively and enthusiastic.
Monkey drums are used in festivals such as the Miao people's cattle-eating feasts, spring tours on the first lunar month, and autumn festivals, as well as mass entertainment and other occasions.