Tala and Laya: Teental, Ektaal, Jhaptaal, Rupak, Dadra, Keharwa and Layakari
Tala and laya
This domain tests practical tala knowledge and layakari calculation. You must know theka, vibhag, sam, tali, khali, and how to multiply laya without losing the cycle.
- Teental: 16 matras, 4+4+4+4; sam 1; tali 5 and 13; khali 9.
- Ektaal: 12 matras, 2+2+2+2+2+2; sam 1; tali 5, 9, 11; khali 3, 7.
- Jhaptaal: 10 matras, 2+3+2+3; sam 1; tali 3, 8; khali 6.
- Rupak: 7 matras, 3+2+2; sam 1 is khali; tali 4, 6.
- Dadra: 6 matras, 3+3; sam 1; khali 4. Keharwa: 8 matras, 4+4; sam 1; khali 5.
- Layakari: barabar, dugun, tigun, chaugun. Calculate bols per avartan as matras multiplied by the laya multiple.
Worked example
Teental dugun: 16 matras x 2 = 32 bols in one avartan; each matra carries two theka bols, but sam remains on matra 1. For tigun, 16 x 3 = 48 bols; design the phrase so the landing falls on sam after 16 matras, not after 48 arbitrary syllables.
Traps
Marking khali as a clap; forgetting that Rupak's sam is khali; counting matras as bols; changing theka to fit a composition; treating dugun as simply faster singing without cycle awareness.