Taal practice
Pick a taal, hear it on tabla or in spoken bols, and practise at your own pace.
Teentaal
तीनताल16 matras · 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
The most widely taught taal in Kathak, and the one most students learn first.
Open Teentaal practiceJhaptaal
झपताल10 matras · 2 + 3 + 2 + 3
A ten-matra taal with an uneven 2+3+2+3 split.
Open Jhaptaal practiceEktaal
एकताल12 matras · 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
A twelve-matra taal in six vibhags of two. It is played both slow and fast.
Open Ektaal practiceRupak
रूपक7 matras · 3 + 2 + 2
A seven-matra taal in which sam falls on khali, so the cycle starts with a wave, not a clap.
Open Rupak practiceDadra
दादरा6 matras · 3 + 3
A six-matra light taal used in thumri, dadra, ghazal and folk songs.
Open Dadra practiceKeherwa
कहरवा8 matras · 4 + 4
An eight-matra light taal used in bhajan, folk, film and semi-classical music.
Open Keherwa practiceDhamar
धमार14 matras · 5 + 2 + 3 + 4
A fourteen-matra taal with an uneven 5+2+3+4 split, linked to the dhrupad and hori tradition.
Open Dhamar practiceTilwada
तिलवाड़ा16 matras · 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
A slow sixteen-matra taal. It shares Teentaal’s four vibhags and clap pattern but has its own theka.
Open Tilwada practiceChautaal
चौताल12 matras · 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
A twelve-matra taal in six vibhags of two, with a weighty feel. It comes from the dhrupad and pakhawaj tradition.
Open Chautaal practiceSooltaal
सूलताल10 matras · 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
A ten-matra taal in five vibhags of two, from the dhrupad and pakhawaj tradition.
Open Sooltaal practiceAda Chautaal
आड़ा चौताल14 matras · 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
A fourteen-matra taal in seven vibhags of two, played at a brisk medium pace.
Open Ada Chautaal practicePancham Sawari
पंचम सवारी15 matras · 3 + 4 + 4 + 4
A fifteen-matra taal, heard mostly in tabla solo and Kathak.
Open Pancham Sawari practiceJhumra
झूमरा14 matras · 3 + 4 + 3 + 4
A slow fourteen-matra taal in 3+4+3+4, often used for vilambit (slow) pieces.
Open Jhumra practiceDeepchandi
दीपचंदी14 matras · 3 + 4 + 3 + 4
A fourteen-matra light taal in 3+4+3+4, used in thumri and light classical music.
Open Deepchandi practice
Taals at a glance
| Taal | Matras | Vibhags | Khali | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teentaal | 16 | 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 | 9 | Classical |
| Jhaptaal | 10 | 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 | 6 | Classical |
| Ektaal | 12 | 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 | 3, 7 | Classical |
| Rupak | 7 | 3 + 2 + 2 | 1 | Classical |
| Dadra | 6 | 3 + 3 | 4 | Light |
| Keherwa | 8 | 4 + 4 | 5 | Light |
| Dhamar | 14 | 5 + 2 + 3 + 4 | 8 | Classical |
| Tilwada | 16 | 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 | 9 | Classical |
| Chautaal | 12 | 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 | 3, 7 | Classical |
| Sooltaal | 10 | 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 | 3, 9 | Classical |
| Ada Chautaal | 14 | 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 | 5, 9, 13 | Classical |
| Pancham Sawari | 15 | 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 | 8 | Classical |
| Jhumra | 14 | 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 | 8 | Classical |
| Deepchandi | 14 | 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 | 8 | Light |
Bol patterns vary by teacher and tradition. Follow your teacher’s version for class.