Teentaal, online — the sixteen that carries everything

Matras

16, in four vibhags of four

Taali

claps on 1, 5 and 13

Khali

wave on 9

Tradition

Hindustani

Teentaal is the most common taal of khyal and instrumental music, and the first cycle most students learn to count. Four even vibhags — clap, clap, wave, clap — sixteen matras that carry everything from a crawling bada khyal to a sprint of taans. If a bandish does not say otherwise, it is probably in Teentaal.

dha dhin dhin dha | dha dhin dhin dha | dha tin tin ta | ta dhin dhin dha

Sangat plays it as a real tabla — recorded dayan and bayan, re-pitched to your Sa so the drum agrees with your tanpura — anywhere from 10 to 720 BPM. Four thekas ship with it: the plain theka above, a vilambit form for bada khyal, a drut form with fills, and a laggi. Bols light up as they sound, and a cycle ring shows exactly where sam is.

Teentaal is one of the ten taals in the free tier: no account, no payment, press play.