Misra Chapu – The 7 Beat Cycle (Audio)

We’ve covered an 8 beat cycle with Adi Thalum; a 5 beat cycle with Kanda Chapu; and now we explore Misra Chapu, the 7 beat cycle. Misra Chapu, known in Hindustani Music as Rupak, is shown by a series of claps and waves: wave on beat 1; wave on beat 2; clap on beat 4; clap on beat 6. It’s recited as Ta Ki Ta Ta Ka Di Mi, which is a 3 + 4 division of 7 beats. Below I’ve recited Misra Chapu is a variety of subdivisions. Mastering these exercises will dramatically improve one’s comfort with 7/4 and will inspire new ways to view 7 (it’s not just 12 12 123 anymore)! A downloadable pdf of this lesson with notation is available at the bottom of the page, but try learning this by ear before checking that out.

Misra Chapu, 7/4 time, in Quarter Notes