Taal11 matrasHindustani
Rudra Taal Online — eleven matras, no khali
Eleven matras — four, four, three — and a genuine curiosity: Rudra Taal has no khali at all. Three claps and never a wave, so the usual landmark that tells your hand "second half" simply is not there. Odd-count cycles test a musician's sense of sam honestly, and Rudra removes even the hint.
- Matras
- 11
- Vibhags
- 4 + 4 + 3
- Taali, claps on
- 1, 5, 9
- Khali, a wave on
- none
The way through is repetition against something incorruptible. Sangat loops the eleven on a real recorded tabla, re-pitched to match your tanpura's Sa, from 10 BPM — slow enough to name every stroke aloud — up to 720 for the brave. The lit bols and the cycle ring carry your eye across the missing khali until your ear no longer needs it.
Rudra is part of the free ten. No account, no charge — just eleven honest matras.
Counting Rudra Taal, matra by matra
Rudra Taal has 11 matras in 3 vibhags (4 + 4 + 3). The hand keeps the cycle: a clap for each taali, an open wave for khali — though Rudra Taal has none. 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 | dha | 1 | |
| 3 | din | 1 | |
| 4 | ta | 1 | |
| 5 | kita | 2 | clap (2) |
| 6 | dha | 2 | |
| 7 | din | 2 | |
| 8 | ta | 2 | |
| 9 | tita | 3 | clap (3) |
| 10 | kata | 3 | |
| 11 | dha | 3 |
Practising Rudra Taal
- Open Rudra Taal in Sangat and set Sa to your key, so the tabla and the tanpura agree.
- Begin around 60 BPM.
- With no khali there is no wave to tell you the second half has begun. Watch the cycle ring for the first few minutes, then look away and check you still land on sam.
- 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 Rudra Taal?
Rudra Taal has 11 matras, divided into 3 vibhags of 4 + 4 + 3.
What is the theka of Rudra Taal?
The standard theka is: dha dha din ta | kita dha din ta | tita kata dha.
Where are the claps and khali in Rudra Taal?
The claps fall on 1, 5 and 9, and there is no khali.
What music uses Rudra Taal?
Rudra Taal is used in rhythm practice and compositions that want an eleven-matra cycle.
Can I practise Rudra Taal online for free?
Yes. Rudra 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.