# Resources — Where to Learn Madal Online

A curated list of free and paid resources. YouTube is your best friend for a
percussion instrument, because you need to *see* the hands and *hear* the tone.

## Best starting point (read this first)

- **The Kathmandu Post — "Ghin. Kha-Taang. Taak-Ghin. Ghin-Taang. It's that
  simple!"** — a clean, illustrated beginner's step-by-step from Raju Maharjan of
  the band **Kutumba**. Covers the strokes in `01-basics.md` and the folk taals
  **Samala** (e.g. *Resham Firiri*), **Maruni**, and **Sangini** in `beats.md`.
  https://kathmandupost.com/weekender/2020/03/06/ghin-kha-taang-taak-ghin-ghin-taang-it-s-that-simple
  (short link: https://tkpo.st/32WczlS)

- **Talkpal — "How to Learn Madal in Nepali: A Beginner's Guide"** — good written
  overview of Ta / Dha / Na strokes and 4/4 practice tips.
  https://talkpal.ai/how-to-learn-madal-in-nepali-a-beginners-guide-to-mastering-the-traditional-drum/

## Free academic video archive (high quality, authentic)

**University of Hawaiʻi ScholarSpace — "Music and Dances from Central Nepal: The
Works of Subi Shah."** Professionally recorded madal tutorials (Raju Maharjan /
Kamal Oli) with English + Nepali subtitles, based on Subi Shah's book *Madal*.
Free to stream/download.

- Intro to Madal Bols — https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/e6485fc1-8928-466d-a5b1-0b361546108c
- Madal Practice (Abhyaas) — https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/9e366d47-8935-4288-8cfc-0d6201d25005
- Khyali Tal — https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/1d8c46b9-effc-43d5-b42b-4f930ba10130

Browse the full collection for more taals — this is probably the best free,
authoritative video source available.

## Structured lessons / courses

- **Dalima Music Academy (Kathmandu)** — a series of free beginner blog+video
  lessons: Lok style, Jhaptaal, Rupak Taal, Nepali folk in madal.
  - Lok style for beginners — https://www.dalimamusic.com/lok-style-in-madal-for-beginnerstutorial/
  - Jhaptaal for beginners — https://www.dalimamusic.com/jhaptaal-in-madal-for-beginners/
  - "How to play Madal for beginners 3" — https://www.dalimamusic.com/how-to-play-madal-for-beginners-3/
- **infonskill — "Madal Basics: Learn the Traditional Nepali Drum"** — a paid
  structured 8-class course (Kiran Gautam): strokes, 4/6/8-beat thekas, Keherwa
  taal, tempo control, folk application.
  http://infonskill.com/course/madal-basics-learn-the-traditional-nepali-drum/

## YouTube — search terms that work

YouTube URLs change, so instead of dead links, use these searches (paste into
YouTube). These reliably surface good Nepali madal tutorials:

- `madal lesson for beginners` — general beginner tutorials
- `मादल सिक्ने तरिका` (how to learn madal) — Nepali-language lessons
- `madal basic beats tutorial` — beat/theka demonstrations
- `Kutumba madal` — pro-level playing from Nepal's premier instrumental band
- `madal jhyaure taal` — the classic 6/8 folk dance rhythm
- `madal dadra / kaharwa / rupak taal` — specific rhythm cycles
- `madal abhyaas` (madal practice) — finger drills

**Channels/artists to look for:** Kutumba, Raju Maharjan, Dalima Music, and
various Nepali music schools posting `मादल पाठ` (madal lessons).

## Books / deeper study

- **Subi Shah — *Madal*** — a foundational reference book on madal technique and
  taals from central Nepal (the Hawaiʻi video archive above is built around it).

## Where to buy a madal

Madals are sold by Nepali musical-instrument shops and online (search
`buy madal online` / `nepali madal for sale`). Beginner tips:
- A **medium-sized** madal is most versatile for learning.
- Ask for one already fitted with **khari** (the black tuning paste) on both heads.
- Natural-hide heads sound best but need occasional re-tuning; synthetic heads are
  lower-maintenance.