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Glite Dictionary
taal

taal

9.9
A repeated pattern of beats that musicians use to keep time in Indian classical music
  • noun
  • /tɑːl/
  • Indian
translation icon : taal
  • In Indian classical music, the performance of a raag often involves the use of taal to keep time and structure.

Examples

  • The drummer explained how different types of taal could change the feel of the music during the concert.

  • He practiced his rhythm by clapping along to the taal, ensuring he was in sync with the musicians.

  • Kushi hears rustling, flapping sounds from the taal tree.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Men bustle about with noisy machines, scaring away the vultures from the taal tree.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Subal yells so loudly that the pair of vultures on the nearby taal tree flap their wings, disturbed.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

musical rhythm
vstaal
  • Specialized
3.2

A regular pattern of beats in a song or dance that gives music its timing

is used in Indian classical music as a specific repeating beat cycle
musical time
vstaal
  • Specialized
3.7

A steady beat musicians follow to keep notes and players together

is particular to Indian classical tradition where beats form repeating cycles

Compounds

Taal language
8.4

An official language of South Africa closely related to Dutch and Flemish

Surface Forms

taal singular
taals plural

Etymology

Taal comes from the Hindi and Sanskrit word tāla, which originally meant a 'clap' or 'beat'. So a taal in Indian music is a repeating cycle of 'beats' that musicians count to keep the rhythm.