The Seven Notes of Indian Classical Music

Music, although having its own language, is wrapped up in different blankets of culture and styles, and has been a vital and rich part of the Indian culture for over 6,000 years, spanning back to the Vedic period and having special mentions in the Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas.

How did it start???

It all began with Listening; listening to the nature created and formed the bedrock of Indian Classical Music, and it is believed that Hindustani Classical music was originated with the sounds of birds and animals. Each "sound" gave rise to "Notes" or what we call "Swaras".

The Seven (+5) Notes

So we basically have Seven notes; which are known as Shudh or Pure notes. They are-

Sa- Shadja

Re- Rishabh

Ga-Gandhar

Ma -Madhyam

Pa -Pancham

Dha-Dhaivat

Ni-Nishadh

They have come from the sounds of peacock, bull, nightingale, elephant, etc. These seven swaras sound just like the Do re me fa so la ti to of the Western counterpart, but that's another story.

Now, what was the +5 I was referring to?

Let us consider the swaras as people (just trying to explain...). Apart from Sa and Pa, all the rest have a twin sibling too. Re, Ga, Dha, Ni; their sibling lives a little below them, whereas the sibling of Ma lives a tad bit above. These siblings don't come out often, but when they do, they sure make the environment beautiful. These "siblings of Re Dha Ga and Ni", are known as Komal Swaras and the "Sibling of Ma is known as Teevra Swara. I bet you won't be having such complex notes anywhere else.

All these notes are brought together in various combinations and these finally give birth to songs and Raagas that we hear today. What are Raagas? Well, we will spare that for some other time!

So, there you go. The Seven Notes of the Indian Classical Music. Happy Learning!