When a Tabla Taal is performed, it is revealed through Kaidas. Kaidas are group of ‘boles’ (Tabla Sounds) arranged according to the strict rules of its parent Taal. As the Raags are born from Thaats, the Kaidas are born from Taals. Kaidas follow the taal section (khali-Bhari etc) structure.
Every Kaids may have three parts:
1. First the main boles of Kaida are payed: As an example, here is a simple Kaida in Teen Taal:
| X | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na | Ta | Ta | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na |
2. Secondly, Paltas are played. A palta are created by mixing the original Kaida boles. The integrity of the main phrase must stay intact. As an example, here are 2 Platas of the above Kaida:
1.
| X | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Ti | Te | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na |
| Ta | Ta | Ti | Te | Ti | Te | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na |
2.
| X | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | – | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na |
| Ta | Ta | Ti | Te | – | Ta | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Ti | Te | Dha | Dha | Tu | Na |
3. In the end, a phrase is extracted from a Palta and played at x4 or x8 the ‘Thah’ speed (4 times or 8 times the original tempo). This is called a ‘Rela.’ Relas are not played for each Kaida, but a Kaida without Paltas is incomplete, especially in solo performances. Here is an example of a Rela for the same Kaida. Follow the Khali Taali signs to read the full taal written in multiple lines:
| X | |||
| dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – | dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – |
| 2 | |||
| ta – tir kat ta – | tir kat ta – – – | dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – |
| 0 | |||
| dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – | dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – |
| 3 | |||
| ta – tir kat ta – | tir kat ta – – – | dha – tir kat dha – | tir kat dha – – – |
In this Rela, only the bolded sections have (alternatively) lighter boles, all other beats stay the same in every section.
Read this Kaida a few times and memorize the boles. Now (along with the theory posts) I will post 10 Tabla taals in this manner. Each taal will be posted in multiple posts.
Find Teen Taal’s original boles here. Find how to play these sounds here. Revising this post (How to Learn, Read and Play Taals) may also be useful.
If you could post tabla audios to go with the written bols, that would be very helpful.
Thanks.
Hi Hassan,
Audio and videos are coming very soon. Eventually everything will be demonstrated. Thanks
very informative post. thanks.
hi my name is Arslaan.
I visit this web site regularily. It is a very nice site.
The information given by you is very nice & presented in a neat manner.
plz give me tabla talas in hindi.
thank u for ur great work!
thank u very much for ur information
Hi…
Music is my passion though i dont sing or play any musical instrument i do admire it a lot…..i unsderstand that there r 360 different taals in indian music….where can one find these taals?
Is it possible to get an audio clip of taal Shikar 17 beats ?
it’s not Ti Te it’s Te Te
Dear Hardik
It is pronounced Tit, it is upto you how you would like to spell it. Thanks.
Sir, please send me composition of song ‘kite kall beh k’ with some detail like how to sing on it
hello sir, i really appreciate ur site.i am looking forward for the videos and audios. thank u once again
i need taal dhadra variations . i was thinking if u could elaborate more on this
do you even write prakaras
Hello.
Can you put something like ghaths in rare taal like Jaitaal , champak savari, like that
Sir,
Please adbice me which type of tabla should we buy so that
with minimum effort/stroke , a clear sound is produced ?
Please give some hints. Thanks.
regards,
Balaji
Hi, i wantn to tell u one thing.
That i want you as my guru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bhaji ki hall chall ne mainu teen taal de mukhda yaani shurruuat chahidi so please can u teach me on it
Hello Sir, i really admire your clear representation of this complicated topic. Sir, i love to play taal deepchandi, can you post some prakars of this taal and its variations ??
It would be a privilege for me if you could give me a suitable response sir.
Regards,
Satwinder.
these taals were basics….
i just want to learn some professional taals….
i will bepleased if you post some more difficult taals and please in hindi it is difficult to figure it out in english and if u upload somme videos it would be great .
thnx for your help…
Hello I want to know that which taal is played in Tum ko dekha toh ye khayal aaya song ( Jagjit singh )
I appreciate you as a Guru. You are fantastic.
it is good to start learning of music via tabla
Hi visit your web site really very help full for tabla beginner’s.I need full form of Kerwa .thanks
great Guru jee im from pakistan from Asad Sahotra