Thaala is an essential component of Carnatic music, one of the oldest classical music forms in the world. It refers to the rhythm or laya in the music and is represented physically through periodically repeating hand gestures.
Aadi thalam is a common thaala used in Carnatic music and has eight counts. The counts are represented by the hand gestures made with our fingers. To start, we put one beat and then begin counting from our little finger, ring finger, and middle finger. We then repeat the process and wave our hands, making sure to maintain a consistent rhythm throughout.
The eight counts of Aadi thalam are structured as follows:
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
As a learner, it is essential to practice thaala and understand the various types of thalam used in Carnatic music. With consistent practice and dedication, you can become proficient in the rhythm and develop a deeper understanding of the music.
Aadi thalam rhythmic structure is based on a cycle of eight beats. The term "Chaturashra-naDe Chaturashra-jaati triputa taLa" refers to the specific subdivisions of the beats in the tala.
"Chaturashra" means that each beat is divided into four equal parts, "naDe" refers to the emphasis on the first part of each beat, and "jaati" refers to the rhythmic pattern created by the subdivisions. "Triputa" means that the tala has three beats per cycle.
Aadi thalam is a tala that consists of one laghu and two dhiruthams, for a total of eight counts. The thalam is structured in the following way: the first four counts are the laghu (1, 2, 3, 4), the next two counts are one dhrutham (5, 6), and the final two counts are another dhrutham (7, 8). Once all eight counts are completed, one avarthanam is said to be completed.
It’s important to note that all basic lessons of Carnatic music, except for alankaram, are set in Aadi thalam. This is because Aadi thalam is a versatile tala that can be used to play a wide variety of musical phrases and compositions.
To practice playing in Aadi thalam, you can start by tapping out the rhythm of the thalam with your hand or a percussion instrument. Once you feel comfortable with the basic structure of the thalam, you can start practicing playing simple musical phrases or compositions in Aadi thalam. As you become more advanced, you can experiment with more complex rhythms and compositions in Aadi thalam.
Overall, Aadi thalam is a fundamental building block of Carnatic music that every student of the genre should master. With practice and dedication, you’ll be able to incorporate Aadi thalam into your own musical repertoire and create beautiful, rhythmic compositions that showcase the rich traditions of Carnatic music.