Notation Systems: Bhatkhande and Vishnu Digambar Paluskar
What the exam tests
Notation questions ask you to write sargam in Bhatkhande or Vishnu Digambar Paluskar notation, place bar-lines for vibhags, and mark komal/tivra swaras and octaves.
Core rules
- Both systems use Devanagari sargam and vertical bar-lines for vibhags; they differ in signs and in examination tradition.
- Bhatkhande notation marks komal swaras with a line below and tivra Ma with a vertical stroke above; dots above or below show tar and mandra saptak. His Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati standardized notation for teaching.
- Paluskar notation also uses sargam signs; it became the standard of the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, founded in 1901.
- Write one swara under each matra; put a bar-line at the end of each vibhag; mark sam at matra 1.
- For a composition, give sthai and antara separately and name the tala and laya.
Worked example
Notate the Yaman phrase Ni Re Ga Ma^ Pa in Teentaal, one swara per matra, starting at sam: 1 Ni | 2 Re | 3 Ga | 4 Ma^ | 5 Pa ... Reasoning: Yaman uses tivra Ma, so Ma carries the tivra mark; no komal is used. Teentaal's first vibhag has four matras, so the bar-line comes after matra 4; matra 5 is the next vibhag. Sam is matra 1, so the phrase begins there.
Traps
- Omitting the tivra mark on Ma in Yaman.
- Using Western staff notation instead of sargam.
- Putting a bar-line after every matra.
- Forgetting dots for mandra/tar saptak.
- Writing a composition without naming its tala.