Prominent taals

Teentaal, Ektaal, Dadra, Keharwa, Jhaptaal, Rupak, Adi, Chautaal and others.

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Common Hindustani taals

Each taal is defined by its number of matras, its vibhags, its taali-khali pattern and its theka.

  • Teentaal: 16 matras, 4 vibhags (4-4-4-4). Taali on 1 (X), 5, 13; khali on 9. Theka: Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Tin Tin Ta | Ta Dhin Dhin Dha. The most widely used taal.
  • Ektaal: 12 matras, 6 vibhags of 2. Taali on 1, 5, 9, 11; khali on 3 and 7. Theka: Dhin Dhin | DhaGe TiRaKiTa | Tu Na | Kat Ta | DhaGe TiRaKiTa | Dhi Na. Used for vilambit and drut khayal.
  • Jhaptaal: 10 matras, 4 vibhags (2-3-2-3). Taali on 1, 3, 8; khali on 6. Theka: Dhi Na | Dhi Dhi Na | Ti Na | Dhi Dhi Na.
  • Rupak: 7 matras, 3 vibhags (3-2-2). Sam is khali; taali on 4 and 6. Theka: Tin Tin Na | Dhi Na | Dhi Na.
  • Dadra: 6 matras, 2 vibhags (3-3). Taali on 1, khali on 4. Theka: Dha Dhi Na | Dha Ti Na. Used for light music.
  • Keharwa: 8 matras, 2 vibhags (4-4). Taali on 1, khali on 5. Theka: Dha Ge Na Ti | Na Ka Dhi Na. Used for bhajans, film and folk songs.
  • Chautaal: 12 matras, 6 vibhags of 2 (same taali-khali layout as Ektaal). Played on pakhawaj for dhrupad. Theka: Dha Dha | Din Ta | Kit Dha | Din Ta | Tit Kat | Gadi Gin.
  • Dhamar: 14 matras, 4 vibhags (5-2-3-4). Taali on 1, 6, 11; khali on 8. Used for the dhamar form of songs about Holi.

Karnatak: Adi taal

Adi taal is the most common Karnatak taal. It is chatusra jati triputa taal: one laghu of 4 beats and two drutams of 2 beats each, giving 8 aksharas per cycle.

Key points

  • 16 Teentaal, 12 Ektaal and Chautaal, 10 Jhaptaal, 7 Rupak, 6 Dadra, 8 Keharwa, 14 Dhamar.
  • Ektaal and Chautaal share 12 matras and taali-khali layout but have different thekas and instruments.
  • Adi taal = 4 + 2 + 2 = 8 aksharas.

Exam tips

  • Learn vibhag divisions as number strings: Jhaptaal 2-3-2-3, Dhamar 5-2-3-4, Rupak 3-2-2.
  • To find taali positions, add vibhag lengths: in Jhaptaal 1, 1+2 = 3, 3+3 = 6 (khali), 6+2 = 8.

Practice questions

Which taal has 10 matras divided into vibhags of 2, 3, 2 and 3?Easy
How many aksharas (beats) make up one cycle of Karnatak Adi taal?Easy
A 12-matra taal with taalis on 1, 5, 9, 11 is played on pakhawaj with the bols "Dha Dha | Din Ta | Kit Dha ...". Which …Medium
In Dhamar taal (vibhags 5-2-3-4), on which matra does the khali fall?Hard
Which pair of taals is most commonly used for light songs such as bhajans, ghazals and folk songs?Medium
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