What is Kayda ?

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By Shivraj Sawant 2,800 views Tags: Kayda

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"Kayda" is one of the most important composition type in Tabla.

- "Kayda" is a Hindi word, which means "Rule".  Most important rule of Kayda is same sound patterns & syllables has to be used while improvising, and it must follow Bhari and Khali. We will see bhari and Khali in detail in below description.

- Kayda is a composition type which can be improvised

- Normally Kayda starts with open sound syllable which is played on both drums like Dha, Dhin,  . . etc.

For example
[melody start]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|T2|N1|K1|N1][tabla]
[T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|D2|N1|G1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]
But there are very few Kayda compositions which starts with close sound
For example
[melody start]
[T7|K3|D2|N2|N1|G3|T7|K3|D2|N2|N1|G3|D2|N2|N1|G3][tabla]
[T4|T8|T4|T8|H1|H1|T4|T8|H2|D8|N1|G3|T2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[T7|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3|T7|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[T4|T8|T4|T8|H1|H1|T4|T8|H2|D8|N1|G3|D2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[melody end]
- Normally Kayda ends with open sound syllable only on Tabla ( Right hand Drum ) like Na, Ta . .etc

For example
[melody start]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|T2|N1|K1|N1][tabla]
[T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|D2|N1|G1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]
But there are very few Kayda compositions which ends on Daya or closed syllable

For example
[melody start]
[T7|K3|D2|N2|N1|G3|T7|K3|D2|N2|N1|G3|D2|N2|N1|G3][tabla]
[T4|T8|T4|T8|H1|H1|T4|T8|H2|D8|N1|G3|T2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[T7|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3|T7|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3|T2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[T4|T8|T4|T8|H1|H1|T4|T8|H2|D8|N1|G3|D2|N2|N1|K3][tabla]
[melody end]
- Kayda has two parts "Bhari" and Khali. Composition is played on both the drums with open sounds on Daya [ Left hand Drum ] In the Bhari part . And same composition is played eliminating open sounds of Daya in Khali part

Bhari Example.
[melody start]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|T2|N1|K1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]
Khali Example, where Dha, Dhin etc syllables are played with either eliminating open sounds of Daya or replaced with closed sound of Daya so Dha = Ta, Dhin = Tin, Ge = Ke  . . .etc
[melody start]
[T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|D2|N1|G1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]
Observe ending part of Bhari or Khali. 
Bhari ends with syllables which are closer to Khali so instead of "Dhin Na Ge Na" we have played "Tin Na Ke Na".
Khali ends with syllables which are closer to Bhari so instead of 'Tin Na Ke Na" we have played "Dhin Na Ge Na".

Following this pattern helps us to shift gradually in Bhari or Khali which sounds aesthetic. So when you are closer to Khali ending syllables of bhari should be closer to Khali or vice versa.

Improvisation 
As I said in the starting, improvisation rules of kayda are, 
- Not only syllables but dominant sound patterns should be used while improvising Kayda.
Dominant Sound patterns for below Kayda are "Ti Ta" "Dha Ti Ta" "Dha Dha Ti Ta", so improvisation must be done using these syllables.

"Dhin Na Ge Na" is not a dominant sound pattern in below Kayda so focus should NOT be on this sound pattern while improvising
[melody start]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|T2|N1|K1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]

- It should have Bhari and Khali
- Bhari of main Kayda should be repeated after Bhari & Khali of each improvisation

Example of a improvisation
[melody start]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8][tabla]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|T2|N1|K1|N1][tabla]
[T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|T1|T4|T8|T1|T1|T4|T8][tabla]
[D1|T4|T8|D1|T4|T8|D1|D1|T4|T8|D1|G1|D2|N1|G1|N1][tabla]
[melody end]
Likewise you can improvise many variations, so it is recommended to play only four to eight  aesthetic variations, instead of playing all variations.

- Kayda must end with Tihai

Here is the whole Kayda
<a href="http://vishwamohini.com/music/music.php?id=81" target="blank">http://vishwamohini.com/music/music.php?id=81</a>

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