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tha.jpg (214535 bytes)

Tha

Played with the four fingers falling flat on the inner skin of the Thoppi

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Thi

Played with the four fingers falling flat on the black patch of the Valanthalai

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Thom

Played with the four fingers striking at the side of the Thoppi such that the inner skin is free to vibrate.(The white paste at the centre is a small quantity semolina dough. Much of the bass 'Thom' sound is due to this) 

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Nam

Played with the index finger striking the outer layer of skin (Vettu Thattu) on the Valanthalai

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Ki

Played with the three fingers (other than the index finger) falling flat on the Sadam (black patch) on the Valanthalai

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Ta

Played with the the index finger falling sharp at the Sadam (black patch) on the Valanthalai

 

 

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Chapu

Played with the little finger with its tip firmly striking the periphery of the Sadam (black patch) at 9 o'clock position to obtain a string-like sound that denotes the pitch.

 

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Arai Chapu

Another type of Chapu played across the the Sadam (black patch) at almost 3 o'clock position.

MRIDANGAM LESSONS

TALAM : ADI

[These lessons are to be played in three speeds]

Lesson 1.

THA,

THI,

THOM,

NAM                                                                                                                                                                       (THA)
Lesson 2.

THA, KITA

THI, KITA

THOM, KITA

NAM, KITA                                                                                            (THA)

Lesson 3.

THA,,, KITA THAKA

THI,,, KITA THAKA

THOM,,, KITA THAKA

NAM,,, KITA THAKA                                                                              (THA)
Lesson 4.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA                                                                           (THA)
Lesson 5.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA                                                                (THA)

[THAKATHARIKITATHAKA = TA+THA+KA+THA+KI+TA+THA+KA]
 Lesson 6.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA          (THA)

[THALANGU = THA+CHAAPPU+THA]
Lesson 7.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKADINA THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKADINA THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKADINA THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKADINA THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA                             (THA)

{THAKADINATHANGITA =

NAM+THOM+THOM+KA+[THOM+NAM (played together)] +" ' +THA+KA}

 
EQUIVALENCE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MATHRAS :

THA =1

THAA / THAM / THAKA =2

THAKITA / THANGU =3

THAKADIMI / THAKAJONU =4

THADINGINATHOM =5 [KHANDA]

THADEENGINATHOM =6 [THISRA]

THATH DEENGINATHOM =7 [MISRA]

THADEEKKITTATHTHOM =8 [CHATUSRA]

THATH DEEN GINN NATH THOM =9 [SANKEERNA]
USEFUL TIPS

1. HOLD THE MRIDANGAM FIRMLY BETWEEN YOUR CALF MUSCLES.

2. KEEP YOUR ARMS IN LINE WITH YOUR BODY AND NOT BEHIND.

3. LET THE THOPPI BE A LITTLE NEARER TO THE BODY THAN THE RIGHT SIDE.

4. A WELL-TUNED INSTRUMENT PRODUCES THE BEST SOUND.

5. IF YOU KEEP RAVAI ON THOPPI, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS

JUST ENOUGH AND WELL PASTED.

6. CLOSE ONE SIDE WITH THE HAND WHILE YOU ARE PLAYING

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MRIDANGAM.

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