Does anyone know of a program or online mp3 or something that lets you do like quarter beat tals like 8 1/4 and 10 3/4. It doesn't have to be a nagma, just metronome like will do. Also, anyone know of online or software trinomes?
If you know how to write western bar-line notation you can try downloading a freeware copy of "Noteworthy Composer" from http://downloads-zdnet.com. It's a midi program but I've written quite a few nagmas for different taals with it. You can also write the key and tempo, octave, instrument, etc. and local and master repeats.
B.
bobby (Feb 22, 2003 02:20 p.m.):
unfortunately i don't know that notation. Is it hard to learn? does it support quarter beat tals and what not? Could you send me some notations?
Bobby,
I could send you the notations but they wouldn't do you any good without the program. Noteworthy Composer is free to try, completely bug-free, no obligations. I've had the program on my PC for about 5 years with no hassles whatsoever.
I started out with some western notations of ragas I found in books (at the library) David's Advanced Theory book has a fair number of pages of nagmas written this way. Just copy them and alter them to suit you style. It would help to get a begginer book of western notation, (again, at the library) but it's not that difficult to figure out. Example: for quarter beats just use the quarter beat notation and put your bar lines where you need them. You can notate for thirds but for fifths you have to use a combination of thirds and quarter beats and it gets more complicated., but as long as you put your bar lines in for every section eg: every 3,2,2 beats for rupak.
Anyway, if you fancy yourself a musician you should try to learn these things.
Try it out and get back to me.
aanaddha@cox.net
For the past few years I have been experimenting on different techniques to develop a Loop Based Tabla software, which is not a sequencer but a real interactive Tabla software where user can :
> Select any Taal from available list of Taals
> Play it in a loop
> Insert a "Rella", "Laggi", "Tehai" or "Tod" at any point in between the basic loop.
> Control the tempo
> Tune-up the Tabla
I have searched the net for this kind of software but couldn't find any with these features, all of them are for sequencing which means you have no freedom, and you are bound to sing or play any instrument according to the sequenced loop.
Al Hamd-o-Lillah, I have designed a Tabla software which will provide you the total freedom to use it Just like a Tabla Player. I am sure that this product will become a revolutionary thing for practice and live performances.
Well I'm not going to make any remarks about being replaced by a machine.
Actually I guess it would be good for instrumentalist to use this to get there layakari worked out so we can feel more comfortable playing the complex compositions our teachers are giving us :-)
NJ (Mar 30, 2003 07:00 a.m.):
Dear Friends,
For the past few years I have been experimenting on different techniques to develop a Loop Based Tabla software, which is not a sequencer but a real interactive Tabla software where user can :
> Select any Taal from available list of Taals
> Play it in a loop
> Insert a "Rella", "Laggi", "Tehai" or "Tod" at any point in between the basic loop.
> Control the tempo
> Tune-up the Tabla
I have searched the net for this kind of software but couldn't find any with these features, all of them are for sequencing which means you have no freedom, and you are bound to sing or play any instrument according to the sequenced loop.
Al Hamd-o-Lillah, I have designed a Tabla software which will provide you the total freedom to use it Just like a Tabla Player. I am sure that this product will become a revolutionary thing for practice and live performances.
You are absolutely right that this software can not replace a real tablist. Me. .myself is a ghazal singer and I know the value of real tabla, that's why I totally agree with you. but up to a certain extend it's a very good software and produces remarkable sounds of tabla. Since I don't have indepth knowledge of tabla taals I am downloading the paterns from the net and trying create basic and some complex compositions to incorporate in my software, if you are a tabal player and would like to contribute some efforts, I would be very very thankfull to you and definately include your name in my software development process partners.
I don't mean to tie up your creativity, but such a software you describe already exists and is called SwarShala. You will find full information about it at www.swarsystems.com/SwarShala/ and you can even download a demo version.
SwarShala allows you to compose not only tabla sequences, but any rhythm and melody out of 22 instruments, all sampled from renowned professionals (Tabla strokes have been played by Pt Anindo Chatterjee himself).
You can also listen to some compositions created through the software at the Swar Caf� (www.swarsystems.com/SwarShala/Cafe/).
I have Swarshala for the past 5-6 years, It's a very nice product, but the difference in my software is that my software is not sequence based, it rpovides you total freedom for playing anything anytime, means a singer is not bound to sing according to the sequence, he can sing freely and the user of my software will act just like a tabla player and will follow the singer.
If you want to sequence tabla bols then you can use any sequencer either hardware or software and substitute bol sounds for the samples supplied. the sounds/rhythms/accents etc.can then be manipulated to your hearts content.
my feelings are that while this exercise can be an aid to practice its usually a way of distracting you from the practice of practice itself (if you get my drift).
the ventures outlined so far in this thread all have there own appeal, i will treat the swar systems contribution as a mere advertisement and recommend that you all abandon your computers and other distractions and practice, practice practice.
omja
