Adi tala

The eight-count cycle

Adi tala is the commonly used name for chatusra-jati Triputa tala. One cycle, or avartanam, has eight primary counts arranged as 4 + 2 + 2.

Part	Counts	Hand action
Chatusra laghu	4	Clap, little finger, ring finger, middle finger
First drutam	2	Clap, wave
Second drutam	2	Clap, wave

How to keep Adi tala

Keep the pulse even and perform this sequence:

• 1 Clap
• 2–4 Count the little, ring and middle fingers
• 5 Clap; 6 wave
• 7 Clap; 8 wave

The hand pattern marks the three angas clearly: 4 | 2 | 2. Repeat from the first clap to begin the next avartanam.

Gati, Kala and Graha

• Gati — subdivision tells you how each primary count is subdivided. In chatusra gati, every count contains four equal inner pulses.
• Kala — count expansion changes how much musical time each hand count occupies. It should be stated separately from the 4 + 2 + 2 structure.
• Graha — starting point tells you where a composition begins in relation to the first count. A composition may begin on the first clap or before or after it.

At one-fold Kala in chatusra gati, the cycle contains 8 × 4 = 32 inner pulses. That is one common realization of Adi tala, not the definition of every performance in it.

Try one avartanam

Say ta-ka-dhi-mi once inside each of the eight hand counts. Keep the syllables evenly spaced while the hands continue clap–fingers | clap–wave | clap–wave. Slow down if the hand cycle and spoken subdivision separate.

Related terms: Tala · Avartanam · Laghu · Drutam · Gati · Kala · Graha

Compare this cycle in the Suladi Sapta Tala matrix.