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.
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