Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

Tilwada

Tilwada or tilwara is a tala of Hindustani music. Like tintaal, tilwada tala also has 16 beats. Tilwada is often used in Kheyal.

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
193 w
Citations
5
Source

Tilwada or tilwara (Hindiतिलवाडा, tilvāḍā) (Punjabiਤਿਲਵਾੜਾ, tilvāḍā) is a tala of Hindustani music.1 Like tintaal, tilwada tala also has 16 beats.23 Tilwada is often used in Kheyal.1

Arrangement

Cyclical series of equally periodical beats consisted of recurring claps and waves:

  • clap, 2, 3, 4, clap, 2, 3, 4, wave, 2, 3, 4, clap, 2, 3, 4

or counted out as:

  • clap, 2, 3, 4, clap, 6, 7, 8, wave, 10, 11, 12, clap 14, 15, 16

Theka

This tala has the following arrangement:1

Taal signs X 2 0 3
Maatra 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Bols Dha TiRiKaTa Dhin Dhin Dha Dha Tin Tin Ta TiRiKaTa Dhin Dhin Dha Dha Dhin Dhin
Clap/Wave Clap 2 3 4 Clap 2 3 4 Wave 2 3 4 Clap 2 3 4
References

References

  1. "Tilwada (or Tilwara)". chandrakantha.com/. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  2. Babanarāva Haḷadaṇakara (2001). Aesthetics of Agra and Jaipur Traditions. Popular Prakashan. pp. 96–. ISBN 978-81-7154-685-5. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  3. Elizabeth May (23 March 1983). Musics of Many Cultures: An Introduction. University of California Press. pp. 89–. ISBN 978-0-520-04778-5. Retrieved 3 July 2012.