Chapter 14: Hindustani Classical Music

Concepts in Indian Classical Music

Shruti

The shruti or sruti is a Sanskrit term, which in the context of Indian music, is considered the smallest interval of pitch that the human ear can detect.

Swara

1. Swara is a Sanskrit word that means a note in the octave.
2. The seven basic swaras of the scale are named
   1. Shadja— Sa
   2. Rishabh—Ri (Carnatic) or Re (Hindustani)
   3. Gandhar —GA
   4. Madhyam—Ma
   5. Pancham— Pa
   6. Dhaivat— Dha
   7. Nishad—Ni

Collectively these notes are known as the Sargam (the word is an acronym of the consonants of the first four swaras).

The tone Sa is not associated with any particular pitch. As in Western moveable-Do solfège, Sa refers to the tonic of a piece or scale rather than to any particular pitch.

Alankaras