Tāl Chakra is an interactive guide to Hindustani classical rhythm developed by Marc Mennigmann. It presents rhythm in a circular layout — sam, vibhāg, and mātrā are all visible at once rather than as a linear sequence. This gives students and producers a structural view of a tāl that notation alone does not provide. The app covers 16 tāls, from the 6-mātrā Dādrā to the 16-mātrā Tīntāl and the rarer 14-mātrā Ārā Chautāl.
X-Ray Mode peels back the rhythm to show vibhāg and accents as concentric rings, which makes the internal structure of each tāl easier to read. Laykārī Lab covers subdivision practice from unison up to 7x ratios — the same progression a teacher would use when introducing layakārī concepts. The Tihāī Builder helps you construct mathematical cadences and verify that they resolve correctly on sam. Studio-recorded tabla samples with three dynamic layers handle playback, so the reference audio is consistent enough for serious practice. The app works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs (M1+). For producers using AUM or other hosts, Tāl Chakra functions alongside a session as a reference tool during recording and arrangement.
Key features:
- 16 Tāls: Dādrā through Tīntāl and Ārā Chautāl in a circular rhythm visualizer
- X-Ray Mode: Concentric ring view of vibhāg and accents within the rhythm structure
- Laykārī Lab: Subdivision practice from unison through 7x ratios
- Tihāī Builder: Visual tool for constructing tihāīs and verifying sam resolution
- Real Tabla Samples: Studio-recorded audio with 3 dynamic layers
- Works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Mac (M1+)
App price: $4.99. No in-app purchases.
Original release: April 17, 2026 | Latest update: April 17, 2026
