RBSE SS Sitar study guide
RBSE SS Sitar · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The RBSE Senior Secondary Sitar is a Class 12 board examination in Hindustani instrumental music, offered by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) as a senior secondary elective. It suits students who have studied sitar through secondary level - or who have trained privately and can demonstrate a working command of the instrument - and who want board-recognised certification before pursuing music at university or a performance career. The RBSE SS Sitar study guide has 7 sections and about 2,429 words.
01History and Evolution of the Sitar and Its Gharanas
This domain covers the sitar's origin stories, the 18th–20th century changes to the instrument, and the gharana lineages you must name and keep apart. Traditional accounts credit Amir Khusrau (13th century) with creating the sitar from the tritantri veena.
340 words, about 2 min02Sitar Construction, Parts, Tuning and Maintenance
This domain tests whether you can name every part of the sitar, say what each string set does, and tune and maintain the instrument without damaging it. The resonator is the tumba (gourd); some instruments carry a second, smaller tumba near the neck for resonance.
377 words, about 2 min03Swar and Raga Theory, Laya, Tala and Notation Systems
This domain tests swar and shruti, that, jati, vadi–samvadi, aroha–avaroha, laya and tala, plus the two notation systems used in Indian music publications. The saptak holds seven shuddha swar (S R G M P D N); komal Re, Ga, Dha, Ni and tivra Ma complete the twelve.
380 words, about 2 min04Prescribed Ragas: Notation, Chalan and Characteristic Phrases
This domain asks you to write and identify the ragas set for this level - correct thaat, jati, vadi–samvadi, aroha–avaroha, pakad, and a short chalan or gat in notation. Confirm the current board list before the exam; the ragas below are the ones most often set at this stage.
355 words, about 2 min05Compositional Forms: Gat, Masitkhani, Razakhani and Tarana
This domain covers instrumental composition: the gat and its sections, masitkhani and razakhani gats, tarana, and how each sits inside a tala cycle. A gat is a fixed instrumental composition in a tala, usually with sthayi (first section, mandra to madhya octave) and antara (second section, tar saptak); some traditions add sanchari and abhog.
341 words, about 2 min06Practical Performance: Alap, Jod, Jhala, Gat and Tala Accompaniment
This domain tests the order and function of alap, jod, jhala and gat, and how sitarist and tabla player hold a tala together. Alap: unmetered, no tabla, slow meend-led unfolding of the raga from mandra Sa upward, introducing vadi and pakad phrases.
327 words, about 2 min07Contribution of Prominent Sitar Players and Composers
This domain asks you to match players and composers to their gharana and to a specific contribution - not just to list famous names. Imdad Khan: surbahar and sitar, among the earliest recorded sitarists; root of the Imdadkhani lineage.
309 words, about 2 min