In practice some departures are seen from the theoretical definitions. (Links for YouTube videos for some of these are in the next page).

The time units of chathusra jaathi Roopaka thaalam in most krithis (except those of Dheekshithar) are much faster than for other thaalams so that the thaalam is generally kept by beating twice and waving once i.e. as if it consists of an anudhrutham and a dhrutham with a total of 3 aksharams. Some musicians/musicologists have tried to coin new names for this usage- such as 'Roopaka Chaapu' or 'Thisra Chaapu'. In the Thaalameter on this web site the term 'Modern Roopakam' is used to indicate such use of Roopakam.

Many musicians will double the action (wave or count)with double speed on the last aksharam of the aavartham or an aksharam before the beats. This is to ensure accuracy of time keeping espcially when the consonants of the lyric do not fall at the beats,counts or waves.

Many krithis originally composed in Misra Jaathi Jampa thaalam (total 10 aksharams) are now sung in Khanda Chaapu (2½ aksharams). (Ex.Sree Kaalhastheesa by Deekshithar). In Sangeetha Sampradaaya Pradarsini (by Subbarama Deekshthar published in 1905) Chaapu thaalams do not occur at all and compositions now sung in Misra Chaapu (3½ aksharams) are shown as Thriputa (7 aksharams). Sometimes Khanda Chaapu (2½ aksharams) is also shown as Thisra Roopakam(5 aksharams). Considering that the basic idea is to ensure time keeping and return to correct points in each cycle such differences are not very significant as the krithi itself will be sung in the same manner.

The thaalams mostly used are Aadhi, Roopakam and the two Chaapu thaalams. Thyaagaraaja composed only in these and in Jampa which is now used as Khanda Chaapu. Khanda Jaathi Ata Thaalam is used in varnams. (Deekshithar, however composed the Navagraha kritis in all the 7 thaalams with their normal Jaathi and in the order in which they are sung in Alankarams.) Thiruppugazh songs use very complex thaalams many outside the 35 thaalams system.