Master the core vocabulary of South Indian rhythm — syllables, speeds, and hand gestures — through interactive exploration.
Solkaṭṭu Syllables
Each rhythmic family (jāti) has a characteristic spoken phrase whose syllable count matches the cycle length. Click any syllable to hear it.
Tiśra3 beats
Chatusra4 beats
Khaṇḍa5 beats
Miśra7 beats
Saṅkīrṇa9 beats
Click any syllable to hear a synthesized tone. Click a full row to play the entire phrase.
Trikāla — Three Speeds
The most fundamental process in Karnatak rhythm: the same phrase is performed at three speeds — while the tāḷa cycle stays constant. Listen to ta ki ṭa speed up as the highlighted card changes.
1×
First Speed
ta — — ki — — ṭa — —
1 syllable per beat
2×
Second Speed
ta — ki — ṭa —
2 syllables per beat
4×
Third Speed
ta ki ṭa ta ki ṭa ta ki ṭa ta ki ṭa
4 syllables per beat
Click play to hear all three speeds in sequence
Why trikāla matters: The slowest speed reveals the tāḷa structure — one syllable per beat. The fastest reveals the internal pulse — four subdivisions per beat. This doubling process appears at every level of Karnatak music, from individual exercises to entire concert structures.
Hand Gesture Guide
Every tāḷa is counted with a specific sequence of hand gestures — claps (taṭṭu), waves (viccu), and finger counts. Press Play on any tāḷa to see the gestures animate in real time.