Taal9 matrasHindustani
Matta Taal Online — nine matras, four-two-three
Nine matras in an uneven walk: four, then two, then three. Matta Taal exists for musicians who want their taal sense stretched — the vibhags are just irregular enough that autopilot fails, and failing autopilot is the entire point of practising it. Sit with it for a week and Jhaptaal starts to feel like a lullaby.
- Matras
- 9
- Vibhags
- 4 + 2 + 3
- Taali, claps on
- 1, 5
- Khali, a wave on
- 7
Odd cycles are hardest to practise precisely because so few recordings loop them cleanly at your tempo. Sangat solves the boring half of that: a real tabla, re-pitched to your Sa, repeating the nine without drift at anything from 10 to 720 BPM while the cycle ring shows where the short vibhag bites.
Matta is included in the free ten. Open it, count 4–2–3 out loud, and enjoy being a beginner again for an evening.
Counting Matta Taal, matra by matra
Matta Taal has 9 matras in 3 vibhags (4 + 2 + 3). The hand keeps the cycle: a clap for each taali, an open wave for khali. Sam, matra 1, is where every cycle begins and every phrase aims to land.
| Matra | Bol | Vibhag | Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | dha | 1 | sam — clap (X) |
| 2 | tirakita | 1 | |
| 3 | dhin | 1 | |
| 4 | na | 1 | |
| 5 | tu | 2 | clap (2) |
| 6 | na | 2 | |
| 7 | kat | 3 | wave (0) |
| 8 | ta | 3 | |
| 9 | dha | 3 |
Practising Matta Taal
- Open Matta Taal in Sangat and set Sa to your key, so the tabla and the tanpura agree.
- Begin around 60 BPM.
- Count 4–2–3 aloud. The two-matra vibhag is the one autopilot skips.
- Sing an alankar or a sargam line over the theka, starting and ending each phrase on sam. Raise the tempo only once you land on sam without thinking about it.
New to matras, vibhags and khali? Taal basics explains them with every free taal side by side.
Questions
How many beats (matras) are in Matta Taal?
Matta Taal has 9 matras, divided into 3 vibhags of 4 + 2 + 3.
What is the theka of Matta Taal?
The standard theka is: dha tirakita dhin na | tu na | kat ta dha.
Where are the claps and khali in Matta Taal?
The claps fall on 1 and 5, and khali (a wave) on 7.
What music uses Matta Taal?
Matta Taal is used in rhythm practice and the occasional composition for musicians who want an odd count.
Can I practise Matta Taal online for free?
Yes. Matta Taal is one of the ten free taals in Sangat: a recorded tabla re-pitched to your Sa, from 10 to 720 BPM, in the browser with no account.