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Mastering the 3 Essential Tihais in Dadra Taal
To truly master Tihais in Dadra Taal, you don't need to learn every possible variation at once. Instead, focusing on three essential patterns can build a powerful foundation for any performance.
This guide will break down the three most important Tihais in Dadra Taal: the full-cycle 6-Beat Tihai, the versatile 5-Beat Tihai, and the classic 3-Beat Tihai, including their advanced Layakari construction.
The Basic Theka of Dadra Taal
First, a quick reminder of the Dadra Taal theka (6 beats).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | | | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Dhin | Na | | | Dha | Tin | Na |
| X (Sam) | | | 0 (Khali) |
The Core Formulas for Dadra Taal Tihais
To build these Tihais, we use two core ideas. The starting beat is always calculated as 7 - (Total Tihai Length).
Formula 1: For Bedamdar (Gapless) Tihais
Used when the Tihai's length is divisible by 3 (like the 6-beat and 3-beat Tihais).
Phrase Length = Total Tihai Length ÷ 3
Formula 2: For Damdar (Gapped) or Layakari Tihais
Used when the length is NOT divisible by 3 (like the 5-beat Tihai). You can either create gaps or use advanced rhythms.
Layakari Phrase = Total Length ÷ 3 (results in a fraction)
The Three Essential Tihais Explained
1. The 6-Beat Tihai (Sam-se-Sam)
This is the foundational Bedamdar Tihai that covers the entire cycle.
- Starts On: Beat 1 (7 - 6)
- Type: Bedamdar (6 is divisible by 3)
- Phrase Length: 2 Beats (6 ÷ 3)
The "Advanced Method" for this Tihai is to play the 2-beat phrase, "Dha Tirekite", with power and perfect timing three times.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Tirekite | Dha | Tirekite | Dha | Tirekite |
2. The 5-Beat Tihai (The Problem Solver)
This Tihai is crucial for learning advanced concepts because 5 is not divisible by 3.
Advanced Method (Layakari)
This method requires playing in a faster rhythm (Tigun) to fit the pattern.
- Starts On: Beat 2 (7 - 5)
- Phrase Length: 1 ⅔ Beats (5 ÷ 3). This means you must play 5 bols in Tigun (triple-speed).
Let's use the 5-bol phrase "Dha Tirekite Dha". Repeating this three times gives you 15 bols that must fit evenly across the 5 available beats.
| Beat 2 | Beat 3 | Beat 4 | Beat 5 | Beat 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dha Tirekite Dha) (Dha Tirekite Dha) (Dha Tirekite Dha) | ||||
How to count: Play 3 bols for every 1 beat of the taal to make it fit perfectly.
Damdar Alternative (Easier Method)
Instead of using Layakari, you can create a 1-beat gap ('Dam') to make the math simple.
- Calculation: [5 Total Beats - (1 Beat Gap x 2)] ÷ 3 = 3 ÷ 3 = 1-Beat Phrase.
This gives us the classic and easy-to-play "Dha S Dha S Dha" pattern.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | S | Dha | S | Dha |
3. The 3-Beat Tihai (The Beginner's Best Friend)
This is often the first Tihai students learn because of its simplicity. It's a Bedamdar Tihai that starts from the Khali (4th beat).
- Starts On: Beat 4 (7 - 3)
- Type: Bedamdar (3 is divisible by 3)
- Phrase Length: 1 Beat (3 ÷ 3)
The "Advanced Method" here is to play the simple 1-beat phrase, "Dha", with perfect clarity and timing three times in a row.
| 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Dha | Dha | Dha |
Conclusion and Practice Tips
By mastering these three essential Tihais, you learn the foundational Bedamdar structure, the advanced concepts of Layakari, and the practical application of starting from the Khali. Practice the 6-beat and 3-beat Tihais for stability, and the 5-beat Tihai to develop rhythmic complexity. Always use 'Padhant' (reciting) before playing.