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An Introduction to Tihai in Kaharwa Taal
To truly master Tihais in Kaharwa Taal, you don't need to learn every possible variation. 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 Kaharwa Taal: the classic 8-Beat Damdar Sam-se-Sam, the powerful 6-Beat Bedam, and the versatile 4-Beat Tihai from Khali.
The Basic Theka of Kaharwa Taal
First, a quick reminder of the Kaharwa theka (8 beats), with the correct Tali/Khali placement.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Ge | Na | Ti | Na | Ka | Dhi | Na |
| X (Sam) | 0 (Khali) | ||||||
The Simple 2-Step Method to Create Any Kaharwa Tihai
You can create any Tihai by following these two simple steps.
Step 1: Find Your Starting Beat
Example: For a 6-beat Tihai, the start beat is 9 - 6 = Beat 3.
Step 2: Find Your Phrase Length
Here, you must ask: "Is my Tihai's total length divisible by 3?"
Case A: If the length IS divisible by 3 (e.g., 6 beats)
This is the easy path. Your Tihai will be Bedam (gapless). Simply divide the total length by 3.
Case B: If the length IS NOT divisible by 3 (e.g., 8 or 4 beats)
The easiest solution is to make a Damdar (gapped) Tihai.
Your goal is to choose a 'Gap Length' (like 1 beat or 0.5 beat) that makes the number inside the brackets `[ ]` divisible by 3.
The Three Essential Tihais Explained
1. The 8-Beat Tihai (The Damdar Sam-se-Sam)
This Tihai covers the entire cycle. Since 8 is not divisible by 3, the classic Sam-se-Sam Tihai in Kaharwa must be a Damdar Tihai.
The Damdar Method
We create a 1-beat gap ('Dam') to make the math work perfectly.
- Starts On: Beat 1 (9 - 8)
- Calculation: [8 Total Beats - (1 Beat Gap x 2)] ÷ 3 = 6 ÷ 3 = 2-Beat Phrase.
This creates a common and elegant pattern: a 2-beat phrase ("Dha Ge") followed by a 1-beat pause ('S').
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Ge | S | Dha | Ge | S | Dha | Ge |
2. The 6-Beat Tihai (The Powerful Bedam)
This is the most common Bedam (gapless) Tihai in Kaharwa. Since 6 is divisible by 3, it's perfectly balanced.
- Starts On: Beat 3 (9 - 6)
- Type: Bedam
- Phrase Length: 2 Beats (6 ÷ 3)
The method here is to play a powerful 2-beat phrase like "Dha Tirekite" with absolute precision three times.
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dha | Tirekite | Dha | Tirekite | Dha | Tirekite |
3. The 4-Beat Tihai (From the Khali)
Starting from the Khali (beat 5) is very common. Since 4 is not divisible by 3, you have two distinct options.
Advanced Method (Layakari)
This method requires playing in a faster, continuous rhythm (Tigun) to fit the pattern without gaps.
- Starts On: Beat 5 (9 - 4)
- Phrase Length: 4 ÷ 3 = 1 ⅓ Beats (meaning 4 bols in Tigun).
Let's use the 4-bol phrase: "Tak Tirekite". When repeated three times, its 12 bols fit perfectly across the 4 available beats.
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Tak Tirekite) (Tak Tirekite) (Tak Tirekite) | |||
How to count it: You must play exactly 3 bols for every 1 beat of the taal.
Damdar Alternative (Easier and Common Method)
Instead of complex Layakari, a popular solution is to create a half-beat (0.5) gap.
- Starts On: Beat 5 (9 - 4)
- Calculation: [4 Total Beats - (0.5 Beat Gap x 2)] ÷ 3 = 3 ÷ 3 = 1-Beat Phrase.
This gives a simple structure: a 1-beat phrase ("Dha") followed by a half-beat pause ('s'). Here is the structure written out clearly:
| Dha | s / Dha | Dha / s | Dha... |
How to read this notation:
- Beat 5: The first 'Dha' takes the full beat.
- Beat 6: The first half is the pause ('s'); the second half is the start of the next 'Dha'.
- Beat 7: The 'Dha' from beat 6 ends in the first half; the second half is the next pause ('s').
- Beat 8: The final 'Dha' begins and lands on the Sam.
Conclusion and Practice Tips
By mastering these three essential Kaharwa Tihais, you learn the core concepts of Damdar Sam-se-Sam, powerful Bedam patterns, and the versatile Tihais from Khali. Practice the 6-beat Tihai for stability, the 4-beat for rhythmic sharpness, and the 8-beat for a graceful finish. Always use 'Padhant' (reciting) before playing.