Questions tagged [indian-classical]

The music rooted in the classical (Northern and Southern) music systems of India.

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Finding the Shadaj (tonic) in Hindustani Sangeet (North Indian Classical Music)

This question pertains to non-Western music and hence a bit of explanation before a question is stated. I listen to and play Hindustani Sangeet (i.e., North Indian Classical Music) which does not use ...
S V Pathak's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
4k views

How many notes are in an octave in Indian classical music? Is it 7, 12, or 22?

What is the logic behind dividing an octave into 22 notes?
Sadhana's user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
4k views

What is a raga?

Wikipedia describes a raga thus: A raga is sometimes explained as melodic rule set that a musician works with, but according to Dorottya Fabian and others, this is now generally accepted among ...
empty's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
986 views

How did the harmonium and violin become an integral part of Hindustani and Carnatic music respectively?

The Harmonium hails from Germany and it is not an Indian instrument. Also, it is an equal tempered instrument. But the harmonium is a very common accompanying instrument in Hindustani Classical (...
Sooraj's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
16k views

Carnatic Vs Western 12 Note system

I was trying to learn the chromatic scale and associate it with carnatic equivalents (I know equal temperment is not the way with indian music, but it interest me to relate and learn it to certain ...
RBz's user avatar
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10 votes
6 answers
27k views

Difference between equal temperament and just intonation

I am learning Indian classical music and learned about just intonation and equal temperament. I want to know the difference between them. I know that Indian classical music uses just intonation and ...
Manoj Singh's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

How to play Tabla in a music composition?

So I've been playing Tabla since I was in 4th grade and I know most of the stuff about it and how to play it (like the Thekas and the Relas and the Kaaydas and all the other good stuff. I learned to ...
radiantshaw's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
2k views

How does improvisation in Indian ragas differ significantly from jazz melodic improvisation?

I have heard that Ravi Shankar once said that ragas are not jazz. However, Ravi Shankar had a significant influence on some jazz performers. How does improvisation in Indian ragas differ ...
empty's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do modern performers harmonize Hindustani classical music?

Interested to know how modern performers harmonize Hindustani classical music. Like, I heard a beautiful piano performance in Raga Shuddh Sarang. Was wondering what would be the left hand playing - ...
Subir Nag's user avatar
  • 706
9 votes
1 answer
263 views

Top-down strokes versus side strokes: what is the most ergonomic drum style between tabla or mridangam/pakhawaj?

Tablas are hand drums that comes by pair which the 2 skins are (nearly) horizontally oriented with the hand moving from top to down, while mridangam/pakhawaj/dol/dolak are hand drums which the 2 skins ...
Noil's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why does Indian Hindustani or Carnatic music not use chords?

Why does Indian Hindustani or Carnatic music not use chords in compositions? I haven't seen any composition that mentioned about chords. Were Indians not aware of chords?
Sooraj's user avatar
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7 votes
5 answers
19k views

Violin - Western Classical vs indian classical. How different are they?

Just a curious beginner with no music background and knowledge of music. I am fond of Western classical music, thus violin. I have a violin but don't know where to start. I couldn't find someone to ...
Inderpreet Singh's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there indian music that is not "mono chord"?

I failed to find a piece of classical indian music that modulates from a chord to another one. Can anyone give a example of not "mono chord" indian music, and if not possible, is there a reason for ...
ichigolas's user avatar
  • 181
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Western vs Indian Carnatic style of violin playing

I am a trained Indian Carnatic style violin player. Can I play Western songs on a violin with carnatic fingering techniques or do I need to re-learn everything to adopt to the Western style?
Som Pathak's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
8k views

Technique: How to produce even sound of an octave in Bamboo flute [Bansuri]?

I've been practicing to play Bansuri for 3 months. I practice playing single note for longer duration, and Alankars [patterns]. Starting note Sa [or C in Western notation] is played by closing first ...
Shrishail Talukar's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
9k views

Difference between 6 holed and 7 holed Indian bamboo flute?

I'm planning to buy an Indian bamboo flute. I found out today that there are Indian bamboo flutes with a different number of holes. There is one with 6 fingering holes called Bansuri and one with 7 ...
O S's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
369 views

Avartan in Western music score

What is the term closest to avartan of Indian classical music in Western music score? Is it a phrase, or is it a bar? Or is there another term which denotes the cyclic ticking of musical time? How is ...
sinhayash's user avatar
  • 169
6 votes
4 answers
3k views

Is practicing Indian classical on a harmonium a problem?

My Indian classical music teacher asks me to practice alankaars on a harmonium. 1) Will practicing on a harmonium somehow bias my voice towards the western fixed tempered scale on which the harmonium ...
Aksh's user avatar
  • 233
6 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to transcribe Indian classical music using Western music notation?

I recently started playing violin in the Western musical style (as opposed to Indian music). At the end I want to play some Indian music like this example: Bombay Theme Piano Notes - Tutorials - Basic ...
Nair's user avatar
  • 163
6 votes
1 answer
393 views

Have traditional tunings for sitar been lost? Did the even-tempered scale have something to do with it?

Several decades ago I attended a citar concert, after which there was a question and answer session by the performer - sorry but I don't remember who it was now. The performer described the variety of ...
uhoh's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Convert Hindustani Bansuri Notes to Carnatic Venu Notes

I plan to use this video to further learn "Tum Hi Ho" on Bansuri However, the notes sequences are entirely different Ascending is Sa Re2 Ga2 Ma1 Pa Da1 Ni2 Sa Descending is Sa' Ni2 Da1 Pa Ma1 Ga2 ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

How do I Read Bansuri Notation

How do I read Bansuri Notation Mumbai theme - A R Rahman I know SA RE GA MA PA DHA NI SA, and the concept of low and high octaves. How do I correlate the letters. And where are the letter ...
Marium's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
224 views

When, why, and how did Mayamalavagowla become the fundamental scale of Carnatic music?

Students of Carnatic classical music are taught Mayamalavagowla (melakarta 15), aka the double harmonic major / gypsy major scale, as the default. The introductory exercises for voice and ear training ...
verbose's user avatar
  • 350
6 votes
1 answer
342 views

Why is ektaal called ektaal?

एकताल (iTrans: ek_taal) is among the common talas, or rhythmic cycles, used in Hindustani (North Indian) classical music. It is the equivalent in the Khayal style of the dhrupad tala चौेताल chautaal ...
verbose's user avatar
  • 350
5 votes
3 answers
5k views

What are the rules of improvisation in Indian ragas?

In How does improvisation in Indian ragas differ significantly from jazz melodic improvisation? Phil states: With a Raga, there is no theme, per se. A Raga is more like a set of rules as to how you ...
empty's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
12k views

Equivalency between Indian Classical Saptak and Western Notes

Can anyone tell me the equivalency between Indian Classical Saptak, i.e. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa and Western Notes, C D E F G A B It is Sa ~ C, Re ~ D, Ga ~ E, etc, or is it something else. Please ...
Marium's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the relationship of raginis to ragas?

From Wikipedia Rāginī (Devanagari: रागिनी) is a term for the "feminine" counterpart of a "masculine" rāga.[65] These are envisioned to parallel the god-goddess themes in Hinduism, and described ...
empty's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
318 views

How do I get consistent sound during Bansuri practice

I am teaching myself Bansuri (23", A scale), using YouTUBE videos. Just recently I understood the concept of octaves, i.e. blowing sound hard and soft with same closed holes will produce high and low ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
5 votes
3 answers
294 views

Hindustani music: Evolution of instruments

So, I was thinking about the evolution of instruments in Indian classical (Hindustani, to be precise). We know Sa and Pa are achala swaras, and don't have any tivra or komal forms. Sa and Pa form the ...
Vishal Upendran's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
776 views

What are the ornaments in the western music and their corresponding ornaments in Indian music?

I am learning to play the different ornaments in western music (Trill, Tremolo, Turn, Appoggiatura, Acciaccatura, Glissando, Slide). I also want to know which are the corresponding ornaments in Indian ...
Bodhi's user avatar
  • 171
4 votes
2 answers
967 views

How does Indian and Western Musical contain Seven Notes ? Is it a Coincidence?

How does Indian (sa,re,ga,ma,pa,dha,ni) and Western(c,d,e,f,g,a,b) music have seven notes ? Is it a coincidence or someone copied from other ?
Selva Jove's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
414 views

How Can Newcomer Learn by Ear

I'm new to Bansuri and am practicing simple, repetitive tunes, such as Om Jai Jagdish Hare A good friend requested I learn below song. I am unable to find tutorials, or even notation anywhere. This ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
4 votes
5 answers
2k views

What are the core elements of Hindustani Classical music?

I am always fascinated with the songs which have some elements of Hindustani Classical Music. I want to learn more about the core or the basic elements of the same. I have tried to read them on ...
user52347's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
484 views

Why are tanpura strings tuned to two different notes?

As a continuation of this question, why does the tanpura have 4 strings playing different notes (Sa plus Pa, ma, or Ni)? I had the understanding that the tanpura is mainly there to provide reference ...
Beta's user avatar
  • 195
4 votes
1 answer
381 views

Explain the types of Raga Sarang

Explain the 'Thaat' of different kinds of raga Sarang. Which type of raga Sarang belongs with which Thaat?
Arkapravo Panda's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
201 views

How to transition between notes in Bansuri

Ok, at this point, I am teaching myself Bansuri (A Scale) by playing simple tunes 10-15 min a day (totally swamped nowadays) Playing Om Jai Jagdish Hare it quite straightforward (plus I am familiar ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the most used standard for notation in Indian classical music?

I want to create a program that will write Indian classical music notation from Midi, but not able decide which representation method is best. One I know is Bhatkhande notation. I want one which is ...
Rahul Gawale's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Tanpura app during Bansuri Practice

I am viewing this tutorial and am unclear on Please clarify two things What is purpose of Tanpura (I got Tanpura Droid) playing in background. Is it to create an ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
3 votes
4 answers
385 views

How do you subtractively synthesize a tanpura drone and its timbre?

How do I subtractively synthesize a tanpura drone and its timbre? The tanpura has 4 strings (Basic notes of Tanpura). The first is tuned to a fifth or some other note, the next two are tuned in unison ...
empty's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
199 views

Am I Hearing Bansuri Tune Correctly

I am learning to play Tum Hi Ho via this tutorial Harsh Dave sings out the saptak (he doesn't write it), hence there is a lot of pause, slow-play, and repeats to understand the notes. Here at 2:30 I ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
3 votes
2 answers
7k views

What is the Western equivalent scale of Indian Raga Mayamalavagowla? [closed]

Mayamalavagowla is the first raga taught to students who learn South Indian Carnatic Music. But I wonder what is the western scale used to represent this Raga ? Why did Carnatic Music system selects ...
Sooraj's user avatar
  • 918
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can the same piano be used for Indian and western music?

For any piano (keyboard, digital or acoustic), is the piano made or tuned differently for Indian and western music? Or, can the same piano be used for both?
Kamil's user avatar
  • 133
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Mastering carnatic gamakas (slides, deflections)

I started learning Indian classical violin a couple of years ago. There is a lot of rigor in getting things right with my instructor, and sometimes I feel I'm plateaued and not making progress. ...
Vignesh's user avatar
  • 318
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is the carnatic equivalent taal name for Jhaptaal?

What is the name of the Taal in Carnatic music that is equivalent to Jhaptaal in Hindustani music?
Rajeesh Rarankurissi's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
167 views

Ear-Training to interpret Tune for Bansuri

I am learning Om Jai Jagdish Hare on Bansuri from this YouTUBE tutorial This gentleman makes lot of ornamentations, which I think are well-suited for the absolute last stanza of this Aarti. Now, I ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
3 votes
1 answer
138 views

Bansuri 1/2 open Ma vs full open Ma

In Bansuri notation, Ma is half open or fully open. Which octave is half open Ma located and which octave is full open Ma located. Or is full open Ma a special case? Different places tell different ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is the finger technique for harmonium?

I have gone through many website to learn the finger technique for harmonium. But all they mention is the technique same as keyboard. e.g. start from c -1 d -2 e -3 f- 1 g- 2 a- 3 b 4- c-5 , 1 is ...
Manoj Singh's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
388 views

katapayadi sutra - some melakarta raagas' numberings that I can't understand

The KaTapayadi system hinges upon the table below: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ka Ka ga Ga ~ga ca Ca ja Ja ~ja Ta Tha Da Dha Na ta tha da dha na pa Pa ba Ba ma ya ra la va sha Sha sa ha I have come to ...
Karthik C's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
1 answer
533 views

Ear Training Using Tanpura

Tanpura is most important instrument for learning and practicing indian classical music. One another advantage of tanpura is it helps in ear training as well. In tanpura there are 3 main notes (pa of ...
Beta's user avatar
  • 195
3 votes
1 answer
582 views

Are these Bansuri Notes all on the Low Octave (to me they are on Low and Middle)

As a newbie I am trying to play these notes of O RE PIYA http://sargamnote.blogspot.com/ To my ear, all the notes belong in the Low and Middle Octave of this beginner Bansuri Fingering Chart (as ...
Marium's user avatar
  • 1,073