a primer on indian rhythmic theory and practices

[Egggo]

ok so we'll first start off with bols

bols are the spoken/written word syllables that stand for the various kinds and combinations of strokes out there for tabla and other kinds of indian percussion like the dhol, kanjira, or mridingam

bols can be categorized in two ways:
1) the drum (or drums) they are played on
2) the sound they make

since tabla is the most prominent and capable percussion from the indian subcontinent these bols will apply specifically to tabla

1) dayan (little drum), bayan (big drum), both
2) open strokes (generate a pitched tone), closed strokes (generate a far more percussive effect)

so here is a nice list of bols:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bol_%28music%29

the most common open strokes would include:
dha, dhun, dhin, tun, ge, na, ta, tin

closed strokes include:
te, re, tey, dhe, rey, ke

and here is a tune that has a very nice beat for 4/4:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/z3w5pw

the basic beat goes like this:

| dha | tere | ketey | take |
| dha tere | ketey take | dha tere ketey take | (basically the first bar played twice and twice as fast)
| dha | tere | ketey | take |
| tun | na | | ketey | take |

the fourth bar (as with any other cycle) can be varied and here is a variation used:
| tun | na | tereketey | tereketey | (last two units are sixteenths)

examples of "speed" stroke groupings include:
| dhe rey | (2 strokes)
| te re tey | (3 strokes)
| na te re tey | (4 strokes)
| te re ke tey ta | (5 strokes)
| te re ke tey ta ke | (6 strokes)
| dhe rey dhe rey tey re te | (7 strokes)

ok so does that make sense so far

eventually i want to work with you all on adapting this for you guys on the set

[MNdrummer21]

Looks very interesting, thanks for taking the time to post all that info.! Have you ever heard of the drummer Steve Smith?(Journey, Vital Information, etc.) He has written several articles in Modern drummer about Indian phrasing using syllables, like you have shown and applying them to the drumkit. I am not sure if it is the same exact concept, but I think it is fairly similar. Anyway, what did you have in mind for applications to the drumset?

[Egggo]

i dunno let's see if anyone else wants to respond

[billdrum]

Thanks for posting this. I'll take some time to really go through it this week.

[Josiah]

Actually it's really cool, do you have like a pronouciation guide or somethin on the bols?

I was tempted to ask the indian liquor store people down the block but eh.....

[stevensonmat2]

Nice write up dude :smoke:

Although its hard(for me at least) to really get the idea without seeing somone apply this stuff.

[Det_Nosnip]

Awesome write-up. I tried to rep you, but MX was expressing its love for other MXs earlier and I don't know whether it went through.

[Egggo]

hehe it went through <3

the rep isn't worth as much as you guys enjoying it though ^_^

[Egggo]

so i think

the bass drum can be the ge stroke
the snare drum and the toms can be different closed strokes (ke, te, re, dhey, rey)
while there is/are a different drum/drums for the pitched strokes (tun, na, ta, tin, and tun)

[xcrari]

Maybe if you break down some song, which ppl know of, where the tabla has been used, they'll understand better.

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL-K9BlQRak
This a cool video that kind of gives an insight on writing something idk.

Hey Amit can you give a sort of heads up or something on improvising in Konnokol, like just anything at all.

So far in my understanding it seems like theres a uniform linking of bols to sounds in patterns, I'm also wondering if these pattern of say 5: te re ke tey ta should be consistent in that they are made of the same bols for the whole composition. idk this is pretty fun, and good for when I can't play guitar or anything.

[Egggo]

i think konnokol is some carnatic rhythm thingy i am only familiar with hindustani :-\

[Electric Requiem]

I remember I found one of another musician in Zakir's group speaking out some basic strings of bols and getting progressively faster until it sounding like a blur to me. But of course Zakir pulls it off flawlessly.
I don't have the time to dig through masses of youtube vids right now though.

[(*The Noonward Race*)]

k cool amit np

i think the song is la dance du bonheur

[Hunted By a Freak]

Ok, I made a big post earlier during lunch but it didn't go through apparently.

Basically I said I will get the Indian Drum Set book I posted a link to in the other thread and post up some applications from that. I just need to find some time to go to the library and check it out, and type some stuff up.

I remember seeing Aloke Dutta in clinic a few years ago. Awesome stuff! I remember one guy was tapping his foot (we were all sitting on the floor in front of him) and Aloke repremanded him swiftly. He was an awesome player; played with my old professor who played marimba (is a world championship marimba player, went to eastman, etc.) and brought his own drum set player. Great music making.


My friend at school, Tarun, is going to help me figure some of this stuff out. He is from India and plays and has studied Indian music and tabla, so maybe he can help me pick some drums out to buy eventually. Will update about that later!