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Khartal or Kartal
is an ancient instrument mainly used in devotional songs. It has
derived its name from Hindi words ‘kara’
means hand and ‘tala’ means clapping.
This
wooden clapper is a
Ghana
Vadya which has discs or plates that produce a clinking sound
when clapped together. It falls under the class of idiophones of
self-sounding instruments that combine
properties of vibrator and resonator.
A pair
of wooden castanets with little bells attached to them was the
earliest form of the khartal. The modern day Kartal comprises two
similar shaped wooden pieces that are approximately eight to
twelve inches long and two to three inches wide. Small metal
jingles or pieces are mounted to the wooden frames that produce
rhythmic sound when struck together. One of the pieces has a
space for the thumb and the other to hold four fingers. To play the kartal thumb is attached to ring or main hole and
remaining four fingers hold the other parts.
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