Fundamentals of Indian Music and Musical Terminology
What this domain covers
The Fundamentals domain tests whether you can define and use the basic vocabulary of Hindustani music accurately: nada, shruti, swara, saptak, raga, thaat, vadi, samvadi, anuvadi, vivadi, jati, aroha, avaroha, pakad, and ornament terms. Expect direct definitions, matching, and short application questions.
Core rules
- Nada is sound; musical nada is classified as ahata (struck) and anahata (unstruck). Shruti are microtonal positions; the commonly taught number is 22, not 12.
- Swara: seven shuddha (S R G M P D N), four komal (Re, Ga, Dha, Ni), and one tivra (Ma). Sa and Pa are achala (fixed).
- Saptak: mandra, madhya, tar. Dots below/above show octave.
- Raga has aroha, avaroha, vadi, samvadi, pakad, chalan, time, and thaat. Jati is counted from the number of swaras used: audav (5), shadav (6), sampurna (7).
- Vadi is the principal note; samvadi is the second principal note, usually a fourth or fifth away; anuvadi are assisting notes; vivadi are avoided.
- Ornaments include kan (grace), meend (glide), gamak, murki, khatka. Instrumental terms include gat, toda, jhala, palta.
Worked example
A question asks: "Name the raga with aroha Ni Re Ga Ma(tivra) Pa Dha Ni Sa and avaroha Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma(tivra) Ga Re Sa; give its jati and vadi." Reasoning: the ascent starts on Ni, uses tivra Ma, and has all seven swaras. The tivra Ma and Kalyan-like shape identify Yaman. Jati is sampurna-sampurna. Vadi is Ga; samvadi is Ni. The answer must not say "komal Ma" - Yaman uses tivra Ma.
Traps
Do not confuse vadi with samvadi. Do not call all ragas "sampurna". Do not treat pakad as a full aroha. Do not say there are 12 shrutis.