Rupak, online — seven matras that begin with a wave

Matras

7, in vibhags of 3 + 2 + 2

Taali

claps on 4 and 6

Khali

on 1 — the sam itself

Tradition

Hindustani

Rupak is the only common taal whose sam is khali: the cycle begins on a wave of the hand, not a clap. That inversion trips everyone exactly once, in public, and is never forgotten afterwards. Seven matras — three, two, two — carrying khyal, bhajans and a great deal of light-classical repertoire.

tin tin na | dhi na | dhi na

The way to make the empty sam feel like home is repetition against a theka that never wavers, which is a fair description of Sangat: real recorded tabla, re-pitched to your Sa, looping from a patient 10 BPM to a blistering 720. Watch the bols light up until tin on the silent sam stops surprising you.

Rupak is in the free ten. Open it and make friends with the wave.