Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the Hindustani classical music terms used across SurSadhak's raag and taal pages.
- Aaroh · आरोह
- A raag's ascending scale — the sequence of notes used going from low to high.
- Alaap · आलाप
- A slow, unmetered melodic exploration of a raag, performed before any fixed composition or rhythm begins.
- Avroh · अवरोह
- A raag's descending scale — the sequence of notes used coming from high to low.
- Bandish · बंदिश
- A fixed, composed piece set in a specific raag and taal, with lyrics.
- Bol · बोल
- A spoken/sung syllable representing a specific tabla stroke (e.g. Dha, Dhin, Ta, Tin, Ka).
- Gamak · गमक
- A rapid, forceful oscillation or shake around a note, used as ornamentation.
- Gharana · घराना
- A stylistic lineage or school of Hindustani classical music, traditionally passed from teacher to student across generations.
- Jati · जाति
- The number of notes a raag uses in its aaroh and avroh: five (odava), six (shadava) or seven (sampurna).
- Khali · खाली
- An unemphasized section (vibhag) within a taal's cycle, traditionally marked with a wave of the hand rather than a clap.
- Komal · कोमल
- A flattened (lowered) note — applies to Re, Ga, Dha and Ni.
- Lehra · लहरा
- A short melodic loop, usually on harmonium or sarangi, played in a fixed taal to accompany a tabla solo.
- Matra · मात्रा
- A single beat within a taal's cycle.
- Meend · मींड
- A smooth glide from one note to another, rather than a discrete jump.
- Pakad · पकड़
- A short, characteristic phrase that immediately identifies a raag.
- Raag · राग
- A melodic framework in Hindustani classical music — a set of rules for which notes to use, in which order, and with which emphasis — rather than a fixed tune.
- Riyaz · रियाज़
- Disciplined, regular practice — the ongoing work of developing voice, technique and raag knowledge.
- Sam · सम
- The first, and most emphasized, beat of a taal's cycle.
- Samvadi · संवादी
- A raag's second most important note, traditionally a fourth or fifth away from the vadi.
- Saptak · सप्तक
- An octave — the interval between one Sa and the next Sa, up or down.
- Shruti · श्रुति
- The smallest audible pitch interval recognized in Indian music theory, finer than a semitone.
- Swar · स्वर
- A musical note in Indian classical music: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni (often abbreviated S R G M P D N).
- Taal · ताल
- A rhythmic cycle of a fixed number of beats (matras), repeating for the length of a performance.
- Tali · ताली
- A clap marking an emphasized section (vibhag) within a taal's cycle.
- Teevra · तीव्र
- A sharpened (raised) note — applies only to Ma.
- Thaat · थाट
- One of ten parent scales that Hindustani raags are grouped under, based on which of the twelve semitones they use.
- Theka · ठेका
- The basic, defining bol (syllable) pattern of a taal, played on tabla.
- Vadi · वादी
- A raag's most important, most emphasized note.