Taal8 matrasHindustani
Keherwa Online — the eight everyone knows
Eight matras in two fours — the beat under half the bhajans, folk songs and film songs ever recorded. Keherwa is the taal nobody stops using; it is folk and stage and kitchen-radio music all at once.
- Matras
- 8
- Vibhags
- 4 + 4
- Taali, claps on
- 1
- Khali, a wave on
- 5
Familiarity is its trap: everyone can start Keherwa, and almost everyone rushes it. A theka that refuses to hurry is the cure. Sangat's recorded tabla holds the eight steady at any tempo from 10 to 720 BPM, re-pitched to your Sa, with ×2 and ÷2 a tap away when a song moves between verse and refrain feels.
Keherwa is free in Sangat, along with nine other starter taals and the metronome. No account — open, play, sing over it.
Counting Keherwa, matra by matra
Keherwa has 8 matras in 2 vibhags (4 + 4). 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 | dha | 1 | sam — clap (X) |
| 2 | ge | 1 | |
| 3 | na | 1 | |
| 4 | ti | 1 | |
| 5 | na | 2 | wave (0) |
| 6 | ka | 2 | |
| 7 | dhi | 2 | |
| 8 | na | 2 |
Practising Keherwa
- Open Keherwa in Sangat and set Sa to your key, so the tabla and the tanpura agree.
- Songs in Keherwa span roughly 80–200 BPM; halve or double with the ×2 and ÷2 buttons as a song changes feel.
- Everyone can start Keherwa and almost everyone speeds up. Hold one tempo for five minutes without touching the slider — that is the exercise.
- 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 Keherwa?
Keherwa has 8 matras, divided into 2 vibhags of 4 + 4.
What is the theka of Keherwa?
The standard theka is: dha ge na ti | na ka dhi na.
Where are the claps and khali in Keherwa?
The claps fall on 1, and khali (a wave) on 5.
What music uses Keherwa?
Keherwa is used in bhajans, folk songs, ghazals, qawwali and film songs.
Can I practise Keherwa online for free?
Yes. Keherwa 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.