KARTALS

Match-Tuned Pair

3¼" diameter, premium bell tone

$29 retail $25

OUT OF STOCK

Custom Made in Mayapur

Whether you're playing the basic "ti-ti-ta" pattern or more intricate rhythms, kartals add beauty and energy to a kirtan. They can accompany your solo chanting, keeping a steady beat, or they can be played in a group kirtan to enliven the music.

After the raw cymbals are custom-made to Daniel's specifications at a metal shop near Mayapur, India, a kirtan wallah picks out the purest ringing cymbals, and pairs them by pitch with one another. These pairs are then fit with the most comfortable fabric to wrap around your fingers as you're playing. The end result is a beautiful instrument with a sweet bell tone – very different from tourist quality kartals on a string!

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Magical Encounter

Daniel Tucker:

“All too often, these kirtan-style cymbals get a bad reputation for sounding brash and out of tune. That's because most kartals are brash and out of tune! Personally I really didn't like kartals, until traveling in Mayapur and hearing great musicians playing sweet bell-tone kartals. So I tracked down the maker of those, and had a bunch custom-made to bring back to the US and share with you.

The kartals you see on this page have been matched by pitch. They aren't all set to a specific western music pitch, but rather each pair is a perfect match so the tone produced is sweet and harmonious.”