Usul tapping exercise
Play the usul as if tapping on your knee or a table: tap the right area for düm and the left for tek (or the J and F keys). Each stroke is measured for how early or late it is.
Practicing with headphones improves the measurement; speaker latency can vary by browser.
Add it to your home screen as a separate app: opens with one tap and works offline too. Free.
What are the usul tapping exercise and the usul exam?
The usul tapping exercise is a rhythm tool for learning Turkish makam music usuls by playing them yourself with düm and tek strokes, as if tapping on your knee. Each stroke is measured in milliseconds as early or late, and missed or wrong strokes show on a chart. The usul exam mode has eight levels: from even usuls such as Sofyan and Semâî to irregular (aksak) usuls such as Aksak, Curcuna and Devr-i Hindî, with rising tempo and fading accompaniment. Each level is passed with at least 80 points; passing all of them earns the “Usul master” badge on the learning path.
Related: UsulKüçük usul (small usul)UsulsUsuls of Turkish MusicLearning path
Frequently asked questions
How is the usul exam scored?
The timing and type (düm or tek) of every stroke are measured. The score comes from the share of correctly played strokes; it drops if the unevenness between strokes exceeds 35 milliseconds and for extra strokes. 80 points passes, 90 gives two stars, 97 three stars.
Which usuls are in the exam levels?
In order: Sofyan, Semâî, Düyek, Türk Aksağı, Aksak, Yürük Semâî, Curcuna and Devr-i Hindî. In the first five levels the usul sound is on; in the sixth and seventh only the start of each cycle is heard, and in the last there is only a count-in, so you count the usul in your head.
Why might the measurement show early or late?
Bluetooth headphones and some speakers add delay to the sound; if the measurement cannot fully subtract it, all strokes shift in the same direction. Wired headphones or the device’s own speaker give more accurate results. On a computer the F and J keys, on a phone tapping the middle of the pads, are the most consistent. If all your strokes drift the same way, use “Measure latency” and tap along with 12 clicks; the measured latency is saved on this device and subtracted from every stroke.
Where is my progress stored?
No account is needed; your scores are stored only in this browser, together with your learning path progress. You can move them to another device with the cross-device sync code.