Meaning “clap” in Sanskrit, it is a measure of rhythm or metre in South Asian musical traditions. It works in conjunction with ragas, the melodic framework used in these traditions. Taala is structured as a cyclical system in which a specific number of beats repeats in the same pattern. Different musical traditions of the subcontinent, such as Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music, have different taala structures.
All Tags:
Dance & Theatre | Music & Sound | Performance & Practice | All Bangladesh | All India | All Pakistan | Medieval (1200–1757 CE)
Cite this entry
Copied!
-
ChicagoImpart Encyclopedia of Art. "Taala." Last updated February 17, 2026. https://imp-art.org/definitions/taala/.
-
MLA"Taala." Impart Encyclopedia of Art, Feb. 17, 2026, https://imp-art.org/definitions/taala/.
-
HarvardImpart Encyclopedia of Art (2026) Taala. Available at: https://imp-art.org/definitions/taala/ (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
Link copied!