RĀGĀKIT · TAALS
Hindustani · 12 beats · 2+2+2+2+2+2
Ektaal
A 12-beat taal played very slowly for the opening of a khayal, and fast for the finale
One cycle, one beat per quarter note (4/4), looping on whole bars. The tabla is tuned to your Sa. Free to use in your releases, royalty-free.
How to count it
- X · Sam is beat 1, the strongest beat. Phrases and tihais land here.
- 2, 3 · Tali are the clapped beats that start each section.
- 0 · Khali is the "empty" section: you wave instead of clapping, and the bass drum goes quiet.
Turn on Clap along and clap on the numbered beats, and wave on 0.
Good to know
- Twelve beats in six sections of two, with two khali sections.
- TiRaKiTa is a quick run of four strokes squeezed into a single beat.
- Its theka has several versions across gharanas (schools); this is one widely taught form.
Taals are new on RāgāKit. Spotted a mistake? Corrections from musicians are very welcome in the feedback box below.
Try it with a raga
Bols and the drum-kit map
Each tabla syllable (bol) is a stroke. The drum-kit MIDI maps them to standard drum notes so it plays on any kit.
| Bol | How it's played | Drum kit |
|---|---|---|
| Dhin | both drums: ringing Tin with Ge | Kick + Low tom |
| Dha | both drums: Na on the right, Ge on the left | Kick + Clap |
| Ge | left drum, open bass | Kick |
| Ti | right drum, closed | Closed hi-hat |
| Ra | right drum, closed | Closed hi-hat |
| Ki | left drum, closed | Side stick |
| Ta | right drum, rim (same stroke as Na) | Clap |
| Tu | right drum, open centre | Mid tom |
| Na | right drum, rim | Clap |
| Kat | left drum, flat closed slap | Side stick |
| Dhi | both drums, shorter | Kick + Low tom |
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Notes from musicians