Rhythm Cycles

Rhythm cycles in non-Western musical traditions.

North Indian Taal

All of these taal are also summarized on this handout. The tali are represented with a clapping icon; the khali are shown with a waving icon.

1) Dadra: 3 + 3 (Youtube Video on Dadra)

2) Rupak: 3 + 2 + 2 (Youtube Video on Rupak)

3) Keherwa: 4 + 4 (Youtube Video on Keherwa)

4) Jhaptaal: 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 (Youtube Video on Jhaptaal)

5) Ektaal: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 (Youtube Video on Ektaal)

6) Chautaal: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 (Youtube Video on Chautaal)

7) Teentaal: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 (Youtube Video on Teentaal)

Turkish Usul

These cycles are represented as drum patterns that repeat over and over. The way of learning them is to sit and tap them out on your knees while reciting the drum stroke syllables (Düm is a deep sound and Tek is a light tap on the drum; other syllables are variations on these two main sounds). The notations can be read like a piano score, with the upper line representing right hand strokes and the lower line representing left hand strokes.

1) Türk Aksağı : 2 + 3 (Art Song in Türk Aksağı)

2) Devri Turan : 2 + 2 + 3 (Composition in Devri Turan)

3) Aksak : 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 (Folk Song in Aksak)

4) Aksak Semai : 3 + 2 + 2 + 3 (Composition in Aksak Semai)

Additional Resources

Digitabla.com: Good general reference for Taal.

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