Dadra, online — six matras for the light stuff

Matras

6, in two vibhags of three

Taali

clap on 1

Khali

wave on 4

Tradition

Hindustani

Six matras split three and three. Dadra is the pulse of light music: the semi-classical genre called dadra takes its name from it, and ghazals, bhajans, thumri-adjacent pieces and film songs lean on it constantly. It is simple — which is exactly why it exposes unsteady laya faster than any showpiece cycle.

dha dhi na | dha tu na

Six bols, endlessly returning. Sangat plays them on a real recorded tabla, tuned to your Sa so the drum and your tanpura agree, at whatever tempo the song wants — tap the tempo button along with any recording and the theka falls in step with it.

Dadra is one of the ten taals in the free tier. If you sing anything light at all, this and Keherwa will cover most evenings.