Ektaal
Ektaal is one of the popular Taal in Khyal patterns of Hindustani Classical Music. It is widely played in Vilambit Khyal in many Gharana and common Taal for Drut Khayal in almost all the Gharanas of Khyal Music. It has twelve beat cycle having six equal sections of two beats in each bar called Vibhag. Ektaal consists of four tali and two Khali in total, the first beat of Ektal is called Sama starting with the First clapping while demonstrating the Taal in hand. The second Tali is in the third bar, the third tali in the fifth bar, and the fourth tali in the sixth bar while the second and fourth bar is Khali having no signature of tali.
Ektaal is widely popular
in all three formats of Khyal music especially in singing and playing an instrument in Vilambit Khyal. The Vibhag of Ektaal
in two-beat per bar is similar to Choutaal, the popular Taal of Dhrupad style which is played in Pakhawaj
Theka :-
Dhin Dhin |
DhaGe Tirakita |
Tun
Na |
Kat Ta |
DhaGe Tirekita |
Dhin
Na |
Dhin
|
x |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
x |
Here - x signature is the sign of Sama, two three, and four are the claps used in demonstrating Taal. Zero is the Khali or no claps silence.
Dugun Laya :-
Dhin Dhin |
Dha
Ge Tirakita |
Tun,
Na |
Dhin
Dhin DhaGe Tirekita |
x |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Tun
Na, Kat ta |
Dha
Ge Tirakita Dhin Na |
Dhin |
3 |
4 |
x |
The counting of Dugun in
Extal is started from 7th beat to meet Sama. i.e., this pattern is called Dugun in one cycle (Ek Avartan). There is another pattern from Sama to Sama is
also in practice.
Tigun Layakari :-
Dhin Dhin |
Dha
Ge Tirakita |
Tun,
Na |
Kat ta |
Dhin, Dhin,
DhaGe, Tirakita Tun,Na |
x |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
Kat, Ta, Dha Ge Tirakita Dhin,
Na |
Dhin |
4 |
x |
Similarly, here also the Layakari of triple timing is counted from 9th
matra to meet Sama. This pattern of tala demonstration is called Tigun in one Avartan. Sama to Sama Tigun can be demonstrated by spelling/writing the Bols three times appropriately.
Chougun Layakari :-
Dhin Dhin |
Dha
Ge Tirakita |
Tun, Na |
Kat Ta |
x |
0 |
2 |
0 |
DhaGe Dhin, Dhin, Dha Ge, Tirakita |
Tu
Na, Kat, Ta DhaGe, Trikita Dhi,Na |
Dhin |
3 |
4 |
x |
A similar pattern of one Avartan Layakari has demonstrated above in Chougun Layakari started from the tenth Matra of Ektal.