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Home à Music Center à Instrumental Guides à Kartal Guide

Preface

The khol has many bols (names for sounds produced by the drum) and talas (rhythmic cycles). The tabla has far more than the khol has. The harmonium, esraj, and sitar has learning curves on how to play and tune the instrument, let alone applying musical knowledge on the instrument! In comparison to the above instruments, there is such an instrument that has fewer strikes, fewer rhythmic cycles, and with no real tuning required! That instrument is the kartals.

Unlike the other guides I have typed up for KKSongs.org, I find the kartals to be the toughest instrument to teach. At first, when I began writing this guide in the start of August, I initially thought that I would be completed with the kartal guide by the end of that month. It occurred to me that so many other things had to be taught besides the cycles of the kartals. While tabla and khol are also rhythmic instruments that are considered the basic instrument to start off on, the fundamental of time-keeping is taught during a kartal course. The fundamentals included how to count properly, space the matras correctly, and picking the correct cycle based on the given rhythmic cycle. Trying explain the fundamentals through an online tutorial is not an easy or a practical task. Therefore, it is advisable to get personal attention with devotees who play kartals and follow along. In addition, have a friend who can sing a bhajan or play mridanga and you accompany with the kartals. This course, like any other musical course, solely depends on practice.

Despite the difficulty there is in presenting this material, I am very hopeful that this presentation will benefit all aspiring devotees or musicians, and thus perfect their life. Please do forgive me if there are any shortcomings for this guide. Hari Bol

Yours in service of Krsna,

Krsna Dhenu

Webmaster of KKSongs.org

November 29, 2007

UPDATED: June 23, 2009