Sooltaal
सूलताल
The ten-beat dhrupad taal, played on the pakhawaj
Also spelled: Sultal, Sooltal, Sool Taal, Shooltaal
A ten-beat cycle in five divisions of two, played on the pakhawaj. Dhrupad-style compositions are sung in it, usually at a medium or fast tempo.
10 Matras (beats)
5 Vibhags (divisions) 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2
1, 5, 7 Taali (claps) on beats
3, 9 Khali (wave) on beat
Theka
X = sam · 0 = khali · other numbers = taali, counted in order
| Matra | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bol | धा | धा | दिं | ता | किट | धा | तिट | कत | गदि | गन |
| Bol (Roman) | Dha | Dha | Din | Ta | Kita | Dha | Tita | Kata | Gadi | Gana |
| Sign | X | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Sooltaal and Jhaptaal both have 10 beats, but Jhaptaal divides them 2, 3, 2, 3 and Sooltaal into five divisions of two. Sooltaal's bols are Chautaal's: drop the second "Din Ta" from the Chautaal theka and you have Sooltaal.
How to recite it (kriya)
- 1 Beat 1 (sam): clap
- 2 Beat 2: count on the little finger
- 3 Beat 3 (khali): wave the hand to the right
- 4 Beat 4: count on the little finger
- 5 Beat 5 (taali): clap
- 6 Beat 6: count on the little finger
- 7 Beat 7 (taali): clap
- 8 Beat 8: count on the little finger
- 9 Beat 9 (khali): wave the hand to the right
- 10 Beat 10: count on the little finger
Examined at
Learning this with a teacher
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