Taal10 matrasHindustani
Jhaptaal Online — ten matras, two-three-two-three
Ten matras that refuse to settle into fours: two, three, two, three. The limp is the lesson. Jhaptaal teaches a singer to feel vibhags of unequal length without counting on fingers, and a great deal of madhya-laya khyal and teaching repertoire lives in it for exactly that reason.
- Matras
- 10
- Vibhags
- 2 + 3 + 2 + 3
- Taali, claps on
- 1, 3, 8
- Khali, a wave on
- 6
Practising it against a real theka is what makes the asymmetry become instinct, and that is what Sangat plays: recorded tabla strokes, re-pitched to whatever Sa your tanpura is set to, at any tempo from 10 to 720 BPM. The cycle ring traces the uneven vibhags so your eye learns them along with your ear, and tap tempo matches the app to the speed you are already singing.
Jhaptaal is free in Sangat — one of the ten starter taals. No account; just the cycle, around and around.
Counting Jhaptaal, matra by matra
Jhaptaal has 10 matras in 4 vibhags (2 + 3 + 2 + 3). The hand keeps the cycle: a clap for each taali, an open wave for khali. Sam, matra 1, is where every cycle begins and every phrase aims to land.
| Matra | Bol | Vibhag | Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | dhi | 1 | sam — clap (X) |
| 2 | na | 1 | |
| 3 | dhi | 2 | clap (2) |
| 4 | dhi | 2 | |
| 5 | na | 2 | |
| 6 | ti | 3 | wave (0) |
| 7 | na | 3 | |
| 8 | dhi | 4 | clap (3) |
| 9 | dhi | 4 | |
| 10 | na | 4 |
Practising Jhaptaal
- Open Jhaptaal in Sangat and set Sa to your key, so the tabla and the tanpura agree.
- Madhya laya is typically 70–120 BPM; begin at the bottom of that range.
- Count "1 2 | 1 2 3 | 1 2 | 1 2 3" rather than one to ten until the uneven vibhags stop feeling uneven. The khali on 6 mirrors sam: ti na answers dhi na.
- Sing an alankar or a sargam line over the theka, starting and ending each phrase on sam. Raise the tempo only once you land on sam without thinking about it.
New to matras, vibhags and khali? Taal basics explains them with every free taal side by side.
Questions
How many beats (matras) are in Jhaptaal?
Jhaptaal has 10 matras, divided into 4 vibhags of 2 + 3 + 2 + 3.
What is the theka of Jhaptaal?
The standard theka is: dhi na | dhi dhi na | ti na | dhi dhi na.
Where are the claps and khali in Jhaptaal?
The claps fall on 1, 3 and 8, and khali (a wave) on 6.
What music uses Jhaptaal?
Jhaptaal is used in madhya-laya khyal, bhajans and a great deal of teaching repertoire.
Can I practise Jhaptaal online for free?
Yes. Jhaptaal is one of the ten free taals in Sangat: a recorded tabla re-pitched to your Sa, from 10 to 720 BPM, in the browser with no account.