Alankaarams (Saptha thala alankaraas) are multi-talam sequences which were originally composed in 35 Talas. First, get a basic understanding of Tala here, and then be able to perform each one alone. You may also want to sing the notes alone to get a feel for the rhythm. Then, learn to sing the lesson with the Tala. Finally, sing all the notes in the four speeds, and then in Akaaram, singing only aaa.
Sapta Taala Alankars - G# Scale (Female voice)
Ragam: MaayamaaLava GowLa (15th Melakartha)
Swarasthana pattern: S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N2 Ś (Western Notes: C C# E F G G# B C)
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Chaturashra Jati (I O I I = 4 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 14 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M | G R | S R G R | S R G M ||
R G M P | M G | R G M G | R G M P ||
G M P D | P M | G M P M | G M P D ||
M P D N | D P | M P D P | M P D N ||
P D N Ś | N D | P D N D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P | D N | Ś N D N | Ś N D P ||
N D P M | P D | N D P D | N D P M ||
D P M G | M P | D P M P | D P M G ||
P M G R | G M | P M G M | P M G R ||
M G R S | R G | M G R G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram 2
Talam: Matya, Chaturashra Jati (I O I = 4 + 2 + 4 = 10 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G R | S R | S R G M ||
R G M G | R G | R G M P ||
G M P M | G M | G M P D ||
M P D P | M P | M P D N ||
P D N D | P D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N D N | Ś N | Ś N D P ||
N D P D | N D | N D P M ||
D P M P | D P | D P M G ||
P M G M | P M | P M G R ||
M G R G | M G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram 3
Talam: Roopaka, Chaturashra Jati (O I = 2 + 4 = 6 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R | S R G M ||
R G | R G M P ||
G M | G M P D ||
M P | M P D N ||
P D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N | Ś N D P ||
N D | N D P M ||
D P | D P M G ||
P M | P M G R ||
M G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram 4
Talam: Jhampa, Mishra Jati (I U O = 7 + 1 + 2 = 10)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G S R S R | G | M , ||
R G M R G R G | M | P , ||
G M P G M G M | P | D , ||
M P D M P M P | D | N , ||
P D N P D P D | N | Ś , ||
Ś N D Ś N Ś N | D | P , ||
N D P N D N D | P | M , ||
D P M D P D P | M | G , ||
P M G P M P M | G | R , ||
M G R M G M G | R | S , ||
Alankaaram 5
Talam: Triputa, Tishra Jati (I O O = 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G | S R | G M ||
R G M | R G | M P ||
G M P | G M | P D ||
M P D | M P | D N ||
P D N | P D | N Ś ||
Ś N D | Ś N | D P ||
N D P | N D | P M ||
D P M | D P | M G ||
P M G | P M | G R ||
M G R | M G | R S ||
Alankaaram 6
Talam: Ata, Khanda Jati (I I O O = 5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R , G , | S , R G , | M , | M , ||
R G , M , | R , G M , | P , | P , ||
G M , P , | G , M P , | D , | D , ||
M P , D , | M , P D , | N , | N , ||
P D , N , | P , D N , | Ś , | Ś , ||
Ś N , D , | Ś , N D , | P , | P , ||
N D , P , | N , D P , | M , | M , ||
D P , M , | D , P M , | G , | G , ||
P M , G , | P , M G , | R , | R , ||
M G , R , | M , G R , | S , | S , ||
Alankaaram 7
Talam: Eka, Chaturashra Jati (I = 4 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M ||
R G M P ||
G M P D ||
M P D N ||
P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P ||
N D P M ||
D P M G ||
P M G R ||
M G R S ||
Alankaaram 8
Talam: Eka, Sankeerna Jati (I = 9 beats)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
Version 1
S , R , G , M P D ||
R , G , M , P D N ||
G , M , P , D N Ś ||
Ś , N , D , P M G ||
N , D , P , M G R ||
D , P , M , G R S ||
Version 2
S R , G M , P D N ||
R G , M P , D N Ś ||
Ś N , D P , M G R ||
N D , P M , G R S ||
Alankaaram I
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati, 11 Aksharas (I3 O I3 I3)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P
R G M | R M | G M P | M P D
G M P | G P | M P D | P D N
M P D | M D | P D N | D N Ś
Ś N D | Ś D | N D P | D P M
N D P | N P | D P M | P M G
D P M | D M | P M G | M G R
P M G | P G | M G R | G R S
Alankaaram II
Talam: Dhruva, Chaturashra Jati, 14 Aksharas (I4 O I4 I4)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M | G R | S R G R | S R G M
R G M P | M G | R G M G | R G M P
G M P D | P M | G M P M | G M P D
M P D N | D P | M P D P | M P D N
P D N Ś | N D | P D N D | P D N Ś
Ś N D P | D N | Ś N D N | Ś N D P
N D P M | P D | N D P M | N D P M
D P M G | M P | D P M P | D P M G
P M G R | G M | P M G M | P M G R
M G R S | R G | M G R G | M G R S
Alankaaram III
Talam: Dhruva, Khanda Jati, 17 Aksharas (I5 O I5 I5)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M P | M G | S R G M G | S R G M P
R G M P D | P M | R G M P M | R G M P D
G M P D N | D P | G M P D P | G M P D N
M P D N Ś | N D | M P D N D | M P D N Ś
Ś N D P M | P D | Ś N D P D | Ś N D P M
N D P M G | M P | N D P M P | N D P M G
D P M G R | G M | D P M G M | D P M G R
P M G R S | R G | P M G R G | P M G R S
Alankaaram IV
Talam: Dhruva, Misra Jati, 23 Aksharas (I7 O I7 I7)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M P D P | M G | S R G M P M G | S R G M P D N
R G M P D N D | P M | R G M P D P M | R G M P D N Ś
Ś N D P M G M | P D | Ś N D P M P D | Ś N D P M G R
N D P M G R G | M P | N D P M G M P | N D P M G R S
Alankaaram V
Talam: Dhruva, Sankirna Jati, 29 Aksharas (I9 O I9 I9)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M P D | P M | S R G M P M | S R G M P D ||
R G M P D N | D P | R G M P D P | R G M P D N ||
G M P D N Ś | N D | G M P D N D | G M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P M G | M P | Ś N D P M P | Ś N D P M G ||
N D P M G R | G M | N D P M G M | N D P M G R ||
D P M G R S | R G | D P M G R G | D P M G R S ||
Alankaaram VI
Talam: Matya, Trisra Jati, 8 Aksharas (I3 O I3)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G | S R | G M P ||
R G M | R G | M P D ||
G M P | G M | P D N ||
M P D | M P | D N Ś ||
Ś N D | Ś N | D P M ||
N D P | N D | P M G ||
D P M | D P | M G R ||
P M G | P M | G R S ||
Alankaaram VII
Talam: Matya, Chaturashra Jati, 10 Aksharas (I4 O I4)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G R | S R | S R G M ||
R G M G | R G | R G M P ||
G M P M | G M | G M P D ||
M P D P | M P | M P D N ||
P D N D | P D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N D N | Ś N | Ś N D P ||
N D P D | N D | N D P M ||
D P M P | D P | D P M G ||
P M G M | P M | P M G R ||
M G R G | M G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram VIII
Talam: Matya, Khanda Jati, 12 Aksharas (I5 O I5)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M G | R G | S R G M P ||
R G M P M | G M | R G M P D ||
G M P D P | M P | G M P D N ||
M P D N D | P D | M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P D | N D | Ś N D P M ||
N D P M P | D P | N D P M G ||
D P M G M | P M | D P M G R ||
P M G R G | M G | P M G R S ||
Alankaaram IX
Talam: Dhruva, Misra Jati, 16 Aksharas (I7 O I4 I7)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S R G M P D P | M G | S R G M P D N ||
R G M P D N D | P M | R G M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P M G M | P D | Ś N D P M G R ||
N D P M G R G | M P | N D P M G R S ||
Alankaaram X
Talam: Matya, Sankirna Jati, 20 Aksharas (I9 O I9)
Practice - G# Scale (Female voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - C Scale (Male voice) - in 3 speeds
S , R , G , M P M | D P | S , R , G , M P D ||
R , G , M , P D P | N D | R , G , M , P D N ||
G , M , P , D N D | Ś N | G , M , P , D N Ś ||
Ś , N , D , P M P | G M | Ś , N , D , P M G ||
N , D , P , M G M | R G | N , D , P , M G R ||
D , P , M , G R G | S R | D , P , M , G R S ||
In Carnatic music, there are Seven basic Talams that are often used. Dhruva I O I I, Matya I O I., Rupaka O I, Jhampa I U O, Triputa I O O, Ata and Eka I.
Aadi thalam is a variety of Triputa Talam with Thrisara Jathi, where the lengh of Laghu is 3.
Each of the 7 Talas (Dhruva, Matya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata and Eka) can be composed using 5 of the Jatis - Thisra (3), Chaturasra (4), Khanda (5), Misra (7) and Sankeerna (9). This gives a total combination of 35 Alankaras.
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
R G M | R M | G M P | M P D ||
G M P | G P | M P D | P D N ||
M P D | M D | P D N | D N Ś ||
Ś N D | Ś D | N D P | D P M ||
N D P | N P | D P M | P M G ||
D P M | D M | P M G | M G R ||
P M G | P G | M G R | G R S ||
Alankaaram 2
Talam: Dhruva, Chaturasra Jati - Sama (I4 O I4 I4 = 14 beats)
S R G M | G R | S R G R | S R G M ||
R G M P | M G | R G M G | R G M P ||
G M P D | P M | G M P M | G M P D ||
M P D N | D P | M P D P | M P D N ||
P D N Ś | N D | P D N D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P | D N | Ś N D N | Ś N D P ||
N D P M | P D | N D P D | N D P M ||
D P M G | M P | D P M P | D P M G ||
P M G R | G M | P M G M | P M G R ||
M G R S | R G | M G R G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram 3
Talam: Dhruva, Khanda Jati - Pramana (I5 O I5 I5 = 17 beats)
S R G M P | M G | S R G M G | S R G M P ||
R G M P D | P M | R G M P M | R G M P D ||
G M P D N | D P | G M P D P | G M P D N ||
M P D N Ś | N D | M P D N D | M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P M | P D | Ś N D P D | Ś N D P M ||
N D P M G | M P | N D P M P | N D P M G ||
D P M G R | G M | D P M G M | D P M G R ||
P M G R S | R G | P M G R G | P M G R S ||
Alankaaram 4
Talam: Dhruva, Misra Jati - Purna (I7 O I7 I7 = 23 beats)
S R G M P D P | M G | S R G M P M G | S R G M P D N ||
R G M P D N D | P M | R G M P D P M | R G M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P M G M | P D | Ś N D P M P D | Ś N D P M G R ||
N D P M G R G | M P | N D P M G M P | N D P M G R S ||
Alankaaram 5
Talam: Dhruva, Sankirna Jati - Bhuvana (I9 O I9 I9 = 29 beats)
S R G M P D | P M | S R G M P M | S R G M P D ||
R G M P D N | D P | R G M P D P | R G M P D N ||
G M P D N Ś | N D | G M P D N D | G M P D N Ś ||
Ś N D P M G | M P | Ś N D P M P | Ś N D P M G ||
N D P M G R | G M | N D P M G M | N D P M G R ||
D P M G R S | R G | D P M G R G | D P M G R S ||
Alankaaram 6
Talam: Matya, Tisra Jati - Sara (I3 O I3 = 8 beats)
S R G | S R | G M P ||
R G M | R G | M P D ||
G M P | G M | P D N ||
M P D | M P | D N Ś ||
Ś N D | Ś N | D P M ||
N D P | N D | P M G ||
D P M | D P | M G R ||
P M G | P M | G R S ||
Alankaaram 7
Talam: Matya, Chaturasra Jati - Sama (I4 O I4 = 10 beats)
S R G R | S R | S R G M ||
R G M G | R G | R G M P ||
G M P M | G M | G M P D ||
M P D P | M P | M P D N ||
P D N D | P D | P D N Ś ||
Ś N D N | Ś N | Ś N D P ||
N D P D | N D | N D P M ||
D P M P | D P | D P M G ||
P M G M | P M | P M G R ||
M G R G | M G | M G R S ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 1
Talam: Dhruva, Tisra Jati - Mani (I3 O I3 I3 = 11 beats)
S R G | S G | R G M | G M P ||
Alankaaram 2
Talam: Dhruva, Chaturasra Jati - Sama (I4 O I4 I4 = 14 beats)