Jhap Taal is a ten-beat cycle with an asymmetric, lilting feel: its vibhags group as 2 + 3 + 2 + 3. That uneven shape gives it a gait quite different from the even march of Teen Taal.
The theka runs Dhi Na / Dhi Dhi Na / Ti Na / Dhi Dhi Na, with claps on the first, third and seventh beats and a khali on the eighth. Vocalists and instrumentalists favour it for medium-tempo (madhya-laya) compositions.
Landing a clean tihai on a ten-beat cycle is a satisfying display of rhythmic command, which is why Jhap Taal is a favourite for showing off layakari.