The 7 Sargam Notes
E The tonic note — the foundation of every raga. Sa is fixed (Achal) and never altered.
R The second note. Can be Komal (flat, Db) or Shuddh (natural, D).
T The third note. Komal Ga (Eb) gives a serious mood; Shuddh Ga (E) is bright.
Y The fourth note. Shuddh Ma (F) is natural; Tivra Ma (F#) adds tension.
U The fifth note — fixed (Achal) like Sa. Pa is never altered in classical music.
I The sixth note. Komal Dha (Ab) is used in evening ragas; Shuddh Dha (A) in morning ones.
O The seventh note. Komal Ni (Bb) creates longing; Shuddh Ni (B) leads back to Sa.
Vikrit Swar (Altered Notes)
In addition to the 7 Shuddh (natural) notes, Indian music uses 5 altered notes called Vikrit Swar. Sa and Pa are Achal (immovable) and have no altered forms.
Flat Rishabh — used in ragas like Bhairavi and Todi.
Flat Gandhar — creates a somber, introspective quality.
Sharp Madhyam — the only sharp note. Creates dramatic tension.
Flat Dhaivat — common in evening and night ragas.
Flat Nishad — adds yearning and emotional depth.
The 10 Thaat System
The Thaat system, codified by Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, classifies all ragas under 10 parent scales. Each Thaat uses a unique combination of notes.
| Thaat | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bilawal | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni |
| Khamaj | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha ni |
| Kafi | Sa Re ga Ma Pa Dha ni |
| Asavari | Sa Re ga Ma Pa dha ni |
| Bhairavi | Sa re ga Ma Pa dha ni |
| Bhairav | Sa re Ga Ma Pa dha Ni |
| Kalyan | Sa Re Ga Ma' Pa Dha Ni |
| Marwa | Sa re Ga Ma' Pa Dha Ni |
| Poorvi | Sa re ga Ma' Pa dha Ni |
| Todi | Sa re ga Ma' Pa dha Ni |
Harmonium Range
A harmonium's range is determined by the number of keys and how many octaves they span. Here's a quick overview of the note layout and range.
- 12 notes per octave — 7 pure (Shuddh) notes + 5 altered (Vikrit) notes
- Typical physical harmonium span: 3–3.5 octaves (36–42 keys)
- Our web harmonium covers approximately 2 octaves, enough for most raga practice and compositions
Keyboard Mapping
Use your computer keyboard to play the harmonium. Here are the default key mappings:
E → Sa (C)R → Re (D)T → Ga (E)Y → Ma (F)U → Pa (G)I → Dha (A)O → Ni (B)4=Komal Re · 5=Komal Ga · 7=Tivra Ma · 9=Komal Dha · 0=Komal Ni
Practice Guide
Learn Sa and Pa
Start with the two fixed notes. Play Sa, then Pa, back and forth. Feel the perfect fifth interval.
Add Re and Dha
Now add Re (above Sa) and Dha (above Pa). Practice Sa-Re-Sa and Pa-Dha-Pa.
Complete the Scale
Play the full ascending scale: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. Then descend: Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa.
Practice Alankar Patterns
Try patterns like Sa-Re-Ga, Re-Ga-Ma, Ga-Ma-Pa etc. These melodic exercises build finger muscle memory.
Explore a Thaat
Pick a Thaat from the table above. Play its scale ascending and descending. Notice how the altered notes change the mood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 Sargam notes? +
The seven Sargam notes are Sa (Shadja), Re (Rishabh), Ga (Gandhar), Ma (Madhyam), Pa (Pancham), Dha (Dhaivat), and Ni (Nishad). They correspond roughly to C, D, E, F, G, A, B in Western music.
What are Vikrit Swar? +
Vikrit Swar are the altered (sharp or flat) versions of Re, Ga, Ma, Dha, and Ni. Sa and Pa are fixed (Achal Swar) and do not have altered forms.
What is a Thaat? +
A Thaat is a parent scale in Indian classical music. There are 10 Thaats defined by Pandit Bhatkhande, each using a unique combination of Shuddh and Vikrit notes. Every raga belongs to one Thaat.
How do I practice Sargam on the harmonium? +
Start with the Alankar exercise: play Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa ascending, then descend. Repeat slowly, then increase speed. Next, practice individual Thaat scales to train your ear for different note combinations.