NOTATION SYSTEM IN HINDUSTANI MUSIC

ACCORDING TO PT. V.N. BHATKHANDE (Which is followed by the present

Hindustani music system)

The following Notation system and symbols are used in the present study by the
Researcher in many compositions of Hindustani music in Category-4 based on Pt. V.N.
Bhatkhande notation:

RGDN - If there is a line under the swaras it denotes a komal swara.

M - This swar is to be considered as Shuddh Madhyam

M / e« - Denotes Teevra Madhyam

● - if this symbol is under any swar, denotes Mandra saptak and if

this symbol is on the top of the swar denotes Taar saptak,
similarly if there is no any symbol it denotes Madhya saptak.
MADHYA SAPTAK : GMP
MANDRA SAPTAK : N + D+ P +

TAAR SAPTAK : Ga Ma Pa

- This denotes the group of swar combinations that are sung in 1

maatra i.e. I beat.

- This symbol is called as MEEND, means to produce sound from one

note to another without breaking the sound. Actually it is a short
smooth and fast moving glide from one swar to another. In Meend
the sound of other desired notes must remain in mind. It is a grace
note in Indian music and embellishes the swara. While connecting
the sound of swaras, it uses Shrutis. Its symbol is:

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 Eg: R S M G. a semi-circular line over the swaras is Meend.
While representing swaras in Notational form the symbol of
Meend is given as above.

Kan Swara :

Kan is a grace note. Kan is produced by slightly touching upon or gliding from the
neighbouring notes, either above or below, before taking the principal note, which is
meant to be embellished. Kan is also known sparsh (touch). Kan note adorns the main
note to which they are appended, its symbol is Pa
Dha or Sa Ni

· - This symbol is called as Avagrah, while singing a geet this symbol

denotes the resting point or the word or a letter in the composition

is to be rendered increasing the Maatra kaal.

Eg: ’;k ··e

    ‐  This symbol if exists before or after any swara, denotes that there
is rest on that swar.

Eg: x & x e

1 maatra - x js x e

1 ½ maatra - lk & js lk = 1 ½ , js = ½

1/4 maatra - fulkajslka

1/3 maatra - /kfu+/k+

1/2 maatra - /kfu lkaxa

1/6 Maatra - fulkajslkalkaxa

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TAAL NOTATION:
SAM = X
KHAALI = ○
VIBHAG = 1

IMPROVISATION OF SWAR:

(i) = khatka =         i/kei

This is equal to spuritamu or Ravva in Carnatic music.

Avartan: Avartan is made up of a number of Vibhagas. One of these takes the

principal beat and one of them has no beat at all.

CARNATIC NOTATION SYSTEM

NOTATION FOR AADI TAALAM CHATURASHRA JAATI

PALLAVI

; N , S , G M, P, M , P; | P , P M G , M , | G, R M M G R ||

Na . ra . ya na te . . Na mo . . na| mo . . . . .||

; - 2 BEATS

, - 1 BEAT

AVARTAMU/AAVRUTTAMU - completion of one whole rhythmic cycle

Eg: in Aadi taalam I Laghuvu| and two dhrutams ○ ○ = | ○ ○ = avartam

THE TOTAL AVARTAM IS DISTRIBUTED INTO 16|8|8|= | ○ ○ (laghuvu, dhrutam,

dhrutam) beats = In Chaturashra gati, in Madhya kaalam (madya laya).

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1 BEAT - 4 NOTES

— - this symbol if given under group of swaras it denotes double

speed of the swaras Eg: P M G , R SRGR G,

(═) - This symbol denotes the swaras are in Triple speed

Eg: P M G , R SRGRSR G R G ,

(||) - If the Taalangam in an Avartam is completed then it is closed with

single straight line (|) If the whole Avartam is completed then it is
closed with double straight lines (||)
Eg: ; N , S , G M, P, M , P; | P , P M G , M , | G, R
M M G R ||

(*) - asterisk symbol is used to denote the Anya swaras in a raga.

- this is used to denote the gamaka in a swara

(∙) - this dot denotes Mandra and Taara sthayi in a raag. if the dot is on
the top of the swar = Taara sthayi and if the dot is below the swar
= Mandra sthayi swar.

The names of the twelve notes in present Hindustani music system.

1. Shadaj Sa lk
2. Komal Rishabh Re js
3. Shuddh Rishabh Re js
4. Komal Gandhar Ga x
5. Shuddh Gandhar Ga x
6. Shuddh Madhyam Ma e
7. Tivra Mandhyam Ma e«
8. Pancham Pa i
9. Komal Dhaivat Dha /k
10. Shuddha Dhaivat Dha /k
11. Komal Nishad Ni fu
12. Shuddha Nishad Ni fu

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The Carnatic Shodasa swaras (16 swaras) which are used in the present Carnatic system
and Dwadasa swaras (12 swaras) are in detail given in a tabular form in Chapter-3.

Note: In the present study researcher expressed the swar-sangatis of Hindustani music
system and their notation in Hindi also in English for some of the ragas.

Example: lk js x e« i /k fu lka

Also researcher used English syllabals like SA RE GA MA PA DHA NI SA in

Hindustani music.

The notation related to Carnatic music is expressed in English syllabals as S R G M P D N S.

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