Jhaptaal
झपताल
The ten-beat taal of madhya-laya khayal and sadra
Also spelled: Jhaptal, Jhap Taal, Jhaptala
A ten-beat cycle in four divisions of 2, 3, 2 and 3 beats. The uneven divisions give it a distinctive gait. Madhya-laya khayal and sadra are sung in it.
10 Matras (beats)
4 Vibhags (divisions) 2 – 3 – 2 – 3
1, 3, 8 Taali (claps) on beats
6 Khali (wave) on beat
Theka
X = sam · 0 = khali · other numbers = taali, counted in order
Practise Jhaptaal on Tabla Online| Matra | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bol | धी | ना | धी | धी | ना | ती | ना | धी | धी | ना |
| Bol (Roman) | Dhi | Na | Dhi | Dhi | Na | Ti | Na | Dhi | Dhi | Na |
| Sign | X | 2 | 0 | 3 |
In the khali division (beats 6 and 7) the open Dhi becomes the closed Ti; that is how the khali is heard in the theka.
How to recite it (kriya)
- 1 Beat 1 (sam): clap
- 2 Beat 2: count on the little finger
- 3 Beat 3 (taali): clap
- 4 Beats 4, 5: count on the fingers (little → ring)
- 5 Beat 6 (khali): wave the hand to the right
- 6 Beat 7: count on the little finger
- 7 Beat 8 (taali): clap
- 8 Beats 9, 10: count on the fingers (little → ring)
Learning this with a teacher
These pages will take you a long way on theory. The singing needs a guru — live online classes, one level at a time, with exam preparation built in.