Tala Theory and Prescribed Talas
What the exam tests
Tala questions test matra, vibhag, theka, laya, tali and khali, and whether you can count a tala from its theka. You should also be able to mark sam.
Core rules
- Matra is one beat; vibhag is a group of matras; avartan is one full cycle.
- Theka is the traditional bol pattern. Tali is a clap; khali is a lighter, empty stroke, not silence.
- Sam is the first matra and the point of resolution.
- Laya is tempo: vilambit, madhya or drut.
- Teentaal: 16 matras, 4 vibhags (4+4+4+4); tali 1, 5, 13; khali 9.
- Jhaptal: 10 matras (2+3+2+3); tali 1, 3, 8; khali 6.
- Ektaal: 12 matras (2+2+2+2+2+2); tali 1, 5, 9, 11; khali 3, 7.
- Dadra: 6 matras (3+3); tali 1; khali 4. Keharwa: 8 matras (4+4); tali 1; khali 5.
- Rupak: 7 matras (3+2+2); khali on 1, tali on 4 and 6.
Worked example
Write Teentaal's theka and mark tali/khali: Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Tin Tin Ta | Ta Dhin Dhin Dha Reasoning: four vibhags of four matras. Matra 1 is sam and tali; 5 is tali; 9 is khali; 13 is tali. The theka is counted continuously; the bar lines show vibhags, not breaks.
Traps
- Counting vibhags as matras.
- Calling khali silent. It is a lighter stroke.
- Forgetting that sam is matra 1, not the last matra.
- Mixing Jhaptal's 2+3+2+3 with Teentaal's 4+4+4+4.