Alankarams

The 7 Sapta Tala exercises — one Alankaram in each of the 7 basic talas — in Māyāmālavagowla

Svara TierPCM Level 1Māyāmālavagowla7 TalasSapta Tala

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Tempo60 BPM

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What are Alankarams?

"Alankarams are multi-tala sequences composed in the 35 talas. But usually, 7 of these are taught, one in each of the 7 basic talas. The Alankaram is a fixed phrase that is repeated across the tala cycle, starting on a different note each time."
— PCM Book 1, p.9 (Chitravina N. Ravikiran)

Rāga: Māyāmālavagowla (Melakarta 15)

S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ

Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S

The Alankaram Phrase

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M

This 10-note phrase is the core of all 7 Alankarams. It starts on a different note each time, cycling through the tala.

The 7 Sapta Talas — Overview

#	Tala	Symbol	Structure	Beats
1	Dhruva Tala	I 0 I I	The most complex of the 7 talas	14
2	Mathya Tala	I 0 I	A 10-beat tala with Laghu–Dhrtam–Laghu structure	10
3	Roopaka Tala	0 I	A 6-beat tala (Dhrtam–Laghu)	6
4	Jhampa Tala	I U 0	A 10-beat tala with Laghu (Mishra jati)–Anudhrtam–Dhrtam	10
5	Triputa Tala	I 0 0	A 7-beat tala with Laghu (Tishra jati)–Dhrtam–Dhrtam	7
6	Ata Tala	I I 0 0	A 14-beat tala with two Laghus (Khanda jati) and two Dhrtams	14
7	Eka Tala	I	The simplest tala — a single Laghu	4

The 7 Sapta Tala Alankarams

1Chaturashra Jāti Dhruva Tālam

14 beats

Symbol

I 0 I I

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 4 | Clap(5) Wave(6) | Clap(7) 8 9 10 | Clap(11) 12 13 14

Konnakol

ta-ka-dhi-mi | ta-ka | ta-ka-dhi-mi | ta-ka-dhi-mi

Anga Structure

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R | M P D N Ṡ P M G R S

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

G M P D N D P M G R | R G M P D N D P M G

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

R G M P D N D P M G | S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | G M P D N D P M G R | M P D N Ṡ P M G R S

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

G M P D N D P M G R | R G M P D N D P M G | S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G

Alankaram 1 in Dhruva Tala. The 14-beat cycle is divided as 4+2+4+4. The 10-note phrase starts on S in the first Laghu, then shifts to R, G, M in subsequent beats. (PCM Book 1, p.38)

Practice Guidance

The Dhruva Tala is the most complex of the 7 talas. Master the beat structure before attempting the notation. Count: 1-2-3-4 (Laghu), 5-6 (Dhrtam), 7-8-9-10 (Laghu), 11-12-13-14 (Laghu).

2Chaturashra Jāti Mathya Tālam

10 beats

Symbol

I 0 I

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 4 | Clap(5) Wave(6) | Clap(7) 8 9 10

Konnakol

ta-ka-dhi-mi | ta-ka | ta-ka-dhi-mi

Anga Structure

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R | R G M P D N D P M G

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

G M P D N D P M G R | R G M P D N D P M G | S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G

Alankaram 2 in Mathya Tala. The 10-beat cycle is divided as 4+2+4. (PCM Book 1, p.40)

Practice Guidance

Mathya Tala has a balanced structure. The Dhrtam (clap+wave) in the middle provides a natural anchor point. Count: 1-2-3-4 (Laghu), 5-6 (Dhrtam), 7-8-9-10 (Laghu).

3Chaturashra Jāti Roopaka Tālam

6 beats

Symbol

0 I

Counting

Clap(1) Wave(2) | Clap(3) 4 5 6

Konnakol

ta-ka | ta-ka-dhi-mi

Anga Structure

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

G M P D N D P M G R | M P D N Ṡ P M G R S | R G M P D N D P M G | S R G M P Ṡ N D P M

Alankaram 3 in Roopaka Tala. The 6-beat cycle is divided as 2+4. Roopaka is one of the most common talas in Carnatic music, used in many Geethams and Kritis. (PCM Book 1, p.42)

Practice Guidance

Roopaka Tala starts with the Dhrtam (clap+wave), not the Laghu. This is unusual — most talas start with a Laghu. The abridged form (3 beats) is used in many compositions.

4Mishra Jāti Jhampa Tālam

10 beats

Symbol

I U 0

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 4 5 6 7 | Clap(8) | Clap(9) Wave(10)

Konnakol

ta-ka-dhi-mi-ta-ki-ta | ta | ta-ka

Anga Structure

Laghu (Mishra) (I)

7 beats — Clap + 6 finger counts

Anudhrtam (U)

1 beats — Single clap

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu/Mishra (I) — 7 beats

Anudhrtam (U) — 1 beat

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R

Alankaram 4 in Jhampa Tala. The Anudhrtam (single clap) is unique to Jhampa Tala. The Laghu uses Mishra jati (7 counts). (PCM Book 1, p.44)

Practice Guidance

Jhampa Tala has the unique Anudhrtam (single clap, no wave). Practice: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 (Laghu/Mishra), 8 (Anudhrtam), 9-10 (Dhrtam). The 7-beat Laghu uses 6 finger counts.

5Tishra Jāti Triputa Tālam

7 beats

Symbol

I 0 0

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 | Clap(4) Wave(5) | Clap(6) Wave(7)

Konnakol

ta-ki-ta | ta-ka | ta-ka

Anga Structure

Laghu (Tishra) (I)

3 beats — Clap + 2 finger counts

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu/Tishra (I) — 3 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

M P D N Ṡ P M G R S | P D N Ṡ Ṙ N D P M G

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats

D N Ṡ Ṙ Ġ D P M G R | N Ṡ Ṙ Ġ Ṁ N D P M G

Alankaram 5 in Tishra Triputa Tala. The abridged form is Mishra Chapu (3+2+2). This tala is extremely common in Carnatic music. (PCM Book 1, p.46)

Practice Guidance

Tishra Triputa has a Tishra jati Laghu (3 counts: clap + 2 fingers). The two Dhrtams follow. Count: 1-2-3 (Laghu), 4-5 (Dhrtam), 6-7 (Dhrtam). The abridged Mishra Chapu uses the same structure.

6Khanda Jāti Ata Tālam

14 beats

Symbol

I I 0 0

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 4 5 | Clap(6) 7 8 9 10 | Clap(11) Wave(12) | Clap(13) Wave(14)

Konnakol

ta-ka-ta-ki-ta | ta-ka-ta-ki-ta | ta-ka | ta-ka

Anga Structure

Laghu (Khanda) (I)

5 beats — Clap + 4 finger counts

Laghu (Khanda) (I)

5 beats — Clap + 4 finger counts

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Dhrtam (0)

2 beats — Clap + wave

Laghu/Khanda (I) — 5 beats (1st)

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R | M P D N Ṡ P M G R S | P D N Ṡ Ṙ N D P M G

Laghu/Khanda (I) — 5 beats (2nd)

D N Ṡ Ṙ Ġ D P M G R | N Ṡ Ṙ Ġ Ṁ N D P M G | Ṡ Ṙ Ġ Ṁ Ṗ Ṡ N D P M | Ṙ Ġ Ṁ Ṗ Ḋ Ṙ Ṡ N D P | Ġ Ṁ Ṗ Ḋ Ṅ Ġ Ṙ Ṡ N D

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats (1st)

Ṁ Ṗ Ḋ Ṅ Ṡ̈ Ṁ Ġ Ṙ Ṡ N | Ṗ Ḋ Ṅ Ṡ̈ Ṙ̈ Ṗ Ṁ Ġ Ṙ Ṡ

Dhrtam (0) — 2 beats (2nd)

Ṅ Ṡ̈ Ṙ̈ Ġ̈ Ṁ̈ Ṅ Ḋ Ṗ Ṁ Ġ | Ṡ̈ Ṙ̈ Ġ̈ Ṁ̈ Ṗ̈ Ṡ̈ Ṅ Ḋ Ṗ Ṁ

Alankaram 6 in Ata Tala. Ata Tala is used in Varnams (the Purvanga section). The two Khanda Laghus (5 counts each) are followed by two Dhrtams. (PCM Book 1, p.48)

Practice Guidance

Ata Tala has two Khanda Laghus (4 finger counts each). Count: 1-2-3-4-5 (Laghu), 6-7-8-9-10 (Laghu), 11-12 (Dhrtam), 13-14 (Dhrtam). Used in Viriboni (Bhairavi Varnam) and Ninnukori (Mohanam Varnam).

7Chaturashra Jāti Eka Tālam

4 beats

Symbol

Counting

Clap(1) 2 3 4

Konnakol

ta-ka-dhi-mi

Anga Structure

Laghu (I)

4 beats — Clap + 3 finger counts

Laghu (I) — 4 beats

S R G M P Ṡ N D P M | R G M P D N D P M G | G M P D N D P M G R | M P D N Ṡ P M G R S

Alankaram 7 in Eka Tala. The simplest tala — a single Laghu. The 4-beat cycle is the building block of all Carnatic talas. (PCM Book 1, p.50)

Practice Guidance

Eka Tala is the simplest tala. Count: 1-2-3-4 (Laghu). Practice this at all four speeds to develop a solid foundation. Adi Tala (8 beats) is essentially two Eka Talas.

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