Taal

What does taal mean?

A taal is a rhythmic cycle: a fixed number of beats that repeat in groups. Some beats are stressed with a clap, while others are marked with a wave. These clap and wave markings are part of the cycle.

A taal also carries a basic drum pattern called the theka. So the definition includes both the grouped beats and a drum pattern.

A Western time signature tells you how many beats are in a bar. A taal also tells you how the beats group and where the arrival point falls.

This is a short definition. For the full explanation and clap patterns, read BeatRootRaga’s Taal for beginners learning page.

An example of taal and where to read more

Teentaal is one example of taal, a repeating rhythmic cycle. It has sixteen beats in four groups of four. Count through all sixteen beats, then begin the same cycle again.

To take this example further, follow the clap patterns in Taal for beginners. That BeatRootRaga page gives the full explanation and introduces keherwa and dadra, cycles of eight and six beats.