How to Know the Tabla Played

[Shishir Donde]

Hi,
I am willing to know if there is any site/place from where I can come to know which taal of tabla is beeing played for a hindi song.
Cheers
Shishir

[milind]

Why do you need a website for that? Just count the beats on the phlanges of your fingers. It is is 6 beats it is Dadra, 7 - Rupak, 8 - Keherwa, 9 - Matta, 10 - Jhaptaal, 11 - Char taal ki Sawari, 12 - Ektaal etc...... Look up Swarganga.org and the taalbase there

[Shishir Donde]

Hello Milind,
Thanks for your reply. Your explanination is really remarkable, but I am really zero to understand how to count the beats. Since I am not a tabla player at all.
Is there a way I can get an example from your side.
There is this song from Bazar film " Karoge Yaad To Har Baat Yaad Aayegi". According to your calculations how should I count the beats of this song. I can hear two different sets of Tabla, one beat for Antaraa and one beat for Sthayee.

I would love to learn how to count beats, if yo can help me on this song. The reason to know is that I have purchased digital tabla and I want to use this tabla when I play a song on my flute. This tabla has all the wordings that you have mentioned.
Let me know if you can help me.
Cheers
Shishir
Singapore

[milind]

OK Shishir, here goes.

First detect the sam of the taal, that is the first beat, e.g Dha is the first beat (sam) for Teentaal - 16 beats (Dha Dhin Dhin Dha, Dha Dhin Dhin Dha, Dha Tin, Tin Ta, Ta Dhin Dhin Dha). Dhin is the first beat for Ektaal - 12 beats (Dhin Dhin Dhage TiRaKiTa Tu Na, Kat Ta Dhage TiRaKiTa Dhi Na).

Once you have detected the sam without error, it is reasonably straightforward to count the rest on the phlanges of your fingers. It is important to get a "feel" for the internal rhythym of the presentation. With your electronic tabla, say (speak) the beats out loud, without being ashamed about it. Unless you get the laya in your mind you can never play the bansuri with the tabla. The cycle (avartan) should go on and on subconsciously in your mind. The best way to do this, in my experience, is to start the tabla machine and leave it on while you are doing your work.
Hope this helps