Lesson 16: Accompaniment (I): Sam

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Lesson 16: Accompaniment (I): Sam

This lesson describes the process of playing the khol at the sam of the cycle. The sam is the first matra of the cycle. There are a few songs and pieces that begin on the sam. Therefore, in order to accompany properly, the singer’s sam and the sam of the mridanga should match. Of course, mukhras can be added and even a start mukhra can be added before the sam starts (given that it ends at the sam properly!). For now, focus on finding the sam correctly.

Here is a song that is in tintal that starts on the sam.

This is just like the tala notation that was used throughout this guide. However, instead of having bols, it has the notes that are to be sung (or played on a melodic instrument) and the words that are sung at the corresponding matra and note. For example at matra 8, the note “ga” is sung for the syllable “te.”

In this figure, the sam of this cycle has the first word “o” (the word “om” actually uses two matras, but it starts at the sam).

Here is how the bols fit in the cycle.

ACCOMPANIMENT PRACTICE:

Normally in kirtan settings, kartal players are always there. However, in cases like dadra tala or Bengali ektal, not many will know how to play the kartal theka correctly. In addition, there won’t be a kartal player present always. Therefore, these tracks are without kartals. Good luck!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Describing where and when to start playing is just as difficult in teaching it as well as learning it. Therefore, Lessons 16, 17, and 18 will be mostly audio clips only with brief commentaries by me. The only way to learn this is by practicing by seeing many examples and taking advantage of any opportunity there is to provide accompaniment. –KD 11/7/07

ACCOMPANIMENT 1 IN TINTAL:

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya