Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit explores the three main components of Hindustani classical music. Pupils hear rhythmic patterns played on the tabla drums and learn how to recite a taal using the spoken mnemonic syllables (bols). They create texture by adding an improvised raag using five notes, and finally add a drone.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to play and sing a melody in time to a rhythm cycle.

Key Notes

• We can develop the texture of our piece by layering the taal and the raag.
• The bols and the claps of the taal are a steady pulse we can layer a raag over.
• We can add the raag by singing a melody and playing improvisations that use the notes of the raag.
• The taal and raag don't have to start at the same time. A raag can start halfway through the rhythm cycle.

Vocabulary To Learn

• taal: a rhythm cycle that measures musical time in Indian music
• raag: a series of notes that inspire a composition (from Sanskrit language meaning 'to colour')
• bol: a spoken syllable used to recite the rhythm (from 'bolna', the Hindi word for 'speak'.
• texture: the combination of different layers of sounds

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The taal and raag begin and end at the same time.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Bringing together taal, raag, and drone Study Guide
• Improvising using a five note raag Study Guide
• Playing taals and speaking bols Study Guide
• Singing and playing a melody in a five note raag Study Guide
• Singing and playing raags Study Guide