Indian Music Glossary

• Achal -Achal Swaras are the fixed swaras of the seven musical notes. Sa and Pa are the achal swaras of the Indian classical music. 
• Arohi -The term Arohi, also known as Arohana and Aroh, is used to define the ascending melody in music. 
• Avirbhav -Avirbhav is that technique of presenting the raga, in which the raga is noticeably expanded and exhibited 
• Abhoga -The last stage of a musical composition, especially in the Drupad music. 
• Alaap -Alaap is the free flow of the Raga, in which there are no words and no fixed rhythm. It is the purest from of melody. 
• Andolan -Andolan refers to a slow alternation between the notes and shrutis that are next to each other. 
• Ang - The term 'Ang' refers to the root to which a particular raga belongs. For example, Tantrakari Ang (instrumental style of music) 
• Alankar - Alankaras are those notes and features that differentiate one raga from the other. 
• Antar Gandhar - One of the variable forms of the third note 'Ga' of Indian Classical Music. 
• Antara - Antara is the second stage of a musical composition that emphasizes the upper half of the octave-range. 
• Antya - Antya is the last section of a musical composition, after which the recital ends. 
• Anuvadi - Those notes of a raga that are neither highlighted nor downplayed are known as Anuvadi notes. 
• Asthai - Asthai is the first as well as the fundamental part of a composition, which is repeated during the entire alaap. 
• Asthan - The octave region of a raga is known as its Asthan. For example, the lower octave region is known as the Mandar Asthan. 
• Ati - The term Ati refers to an extreme in a raga. For example, Ati Vilambit Laya means extremely slow tempo. 
• Audava - Audava is a raga that has only five notes i.e. 'Paanch Swaras'. 
• Avarohi - The term Avarohi, also known as Avarohana and Avaroh, is used to define the descending melody in music. 
• Bhajan - A devotional song eulogizing Indian Gods and Goddesses. Sung in light classical style, it is usually set to 6, 7 or 8 beat cycles. 
• Bol - The term 'Bol' refers to the words making up a vocal composition.
• Carnatic - Ancient classical music of South India is known as Carnatic Music
• Chakra - As per the Melakarta table of raga classification, Chakras are the twelve groups according to which the ragas are categorized. 
• Chalan - Chalan is the makeup of a musical composition, which embodies the movement of a particular raga. 
• Chautalaa - Chautalaa is the musical cycle that consists of fourteen beats. 
• Dadra Tal - Dadra Tal is the common cycle in the lighter forms of music, comprising of six or three beats. 
• Deepchandi Tal - Deepchandi Tal is the tabla composition with fourteen beats
• Dhamar Tal - Dhamar Tal is the fourteen beat Tal that has a '5+2+3+4' vibhag pattern. 
• Dhaivata - Dhaivata is the sixth of the seven swaras or notes of the Indian classical scale. 
• Drut - Drut is the term denoting the fast tempo or speed of the Tal.
• Ektal - Ektal is that Tal of the Indian classical music in which the 12 matras are divided into 6 vibhags, each of them having two matras. 
• Gandhar - Gandhar is 'Ga', the third musical note of Indian Classical Music.
• Gayaki - Gayaki is one of the several styles of singing. 
• Geet - Geet is the Indian term for a song or composition.
• Ghazal - Ghazal is a poetic-cum-musical form of Hindustani light music, with Persian and Urdu poetic influences. 
• Grama - Gramas are the basic notes employed in musical tradition. Initially there were three gramas - Shadaja, Madhyama and Gandhar.
• Hindustani - Hindustani Classical Music is the form of Indian classical music that developed in northern parts of India.
• Jati - Jati refers to the classification of musical compositions as per the tones.
• Jhaptal - Jhaptal is an Indian rhythmic form with a ten-beat cycle.
• Jhumra Tal - Jhumra Tal is a slow Indian rhythmic form of 14 (3+4+3+4) beats.
• Kan - Kan is the grace note of a musical composition.
• Keharwa Tal - Keharwa Tal is the one of the rhythms of the Indian classical music, which has an eight beat cycle.
• Komal - The flat form of a note or swar in the classical music of India.
• Kriti - Kriti is a format of a musical composition that characterizes the Carnatic form of music. 
• Lakshan - An introduction to the ragas is known as Lakshan. It comprises of a set of rules and principles. 
• Laya - Laya can be described as the tempo or speed of the Tal. 
• Madhya Saptak - The basic saptak, with middle octave region, is known as the Madhya Saptak.
• Madhya Laya - Madhya Laya is the medium tempo or speed of the Tal. 
• Madhyama - Madhyama is 'Ma', the fourth musical note of Indian Classical Music.
• Mandra - Mandra refers to the lower scale notes of the raga, written with dots underneath them.
• Meend - Meend is an unbroken flow of a musical progression, from higher to lower notes. 
• Mela - Mela is the basic organization of the notes in aroha and avaroha melody.
• Mishra - A Mishra melody is that melody which has features of more than one raga. "
• Mridangam - Mridangam is a drumming instrument, used in the Carnatic music of South India. 
• Nada - The raga or musical notes in music are known as nada vibrations. There are basically two types of Nadas - Ahata (struck) and Unahata (un-struck).
• Nada Brahma - The concept of Nada Brahma means that the whole universe was created from the energy of sound.
• Nataka - Nataka is the Hindi term used for defining a theater performance. 
• Nyasa - Nyasa is the last note of a specific phrase of notes, which leads to its ending.
• Nishadha - Nishadha is 'Ni', the seventh musical note of Indian Classical Music.
• Pakad - Pakad is the catch phrase of note combinations, which normally comprises of five notes. It characterizes the flow of a raga.
• Panchama - Panchama is 'Pa', the fifth musical note of Indian Classical Music.
• Pandit - Pandit is a term of respect, used to refer to the masters or scholars in the field of Indian Classical Music.
• Poorvang - The lower region of an octave, from Sa to Ma (Sa Re Ga Ma) is known as the Poorvang.
• Prati - The term Prati is used to define a sharp musical note i.e. a musical note that is higher in pitch by a semitone.
• Raga - Raga is the basic organization of the thirteen musical notes in a composition, as per specific rules.
• Ragini - Ragini is the feminine form of raga. It is usually described as a summary of the main theme of the melody.
• Rasa - Rasa is the term used to define the emotional state or quality of the raga and ragini. There are nine rasas in classical music. 
• Rasik - Rasik is name given to the composer of a Rasa. 
• Rishabha - Rishabha is 'Re', the second musical note of Indian Classical Music. 
• Rupak Tal - Rupak Tal is an Indian rhythmic form, which comprises of seven beats. 
• Sanchari - Sanchari is the third subsection of a musical composition that comprises of all the regions of the octave. 
• Sangeet - Sangeet is the Hindu term used to define music. 
• Sampooran - Sampooran ragas are those ragas that comprise of all the seven notes. 
• Samvadi - Samvadi is the second most important class into which the notes in the basic musical gamut are divided.
• Sandhi Prakash - The ragas that are performed during the hours of twilight or dusk are called Sandhi Prakash Ragas. 
• Saptak - Saptak means the set of seven swars or seven notes of the Indian Classical Music. 
• Sargam - Sargam is the term used to define the scale of notes used in the composition of music. 
• Shadaja - Shadaja is 'Sa', the first musical note of Indian Classical Music. 
• Shastra - Shastra is the treatise or text that explains the timeless rules and principles behind music. 
• Shaudava - Shaudava Raga is the raga that comprises of six notes in its ascending or descending movement. 
• Shruti - Shruti is the sound interval between recognized notes or swaras. 
• Shudha - The pure and natural notes or swaras are known as Shudha Swaras.
• Swara - Swaras are the musical notes of a composition. 
• Swaroop - The term Swaroop refers to the image of a raga. 
• Tabla - Tabla is a North Indian drum set, which comprises of the Dagga (bass drum) and the Tabla (Treble drum) 
• Tal - Tal is a predisposed arrangement of beats, in a certain tempo
• Tan - An improvised vocal or instrumental musical phrase 
• Tanpura - String instrument used for drone; Tanpura means to fill the void behind the music; to complete or assist a tan; a. k. a. Tamboora 
• Tar - Tar is a fast-paced musical and melodic amplification of vocal as well as instrumental classical music. 
• Tamboora - Tamboora is a musical instrument made from a gourd (Tumba). It is also known as Tanpura. 
• Thaat - Thaat is Pandit Bhatkande's classification of all the ragas into one of ten parent scales. 
• Thumri - Thumri is a form of 'light-classical' vocal music. It does not follow the tala and raga rules of music very rigidly. 
• Tintal (Teental) - Tintal is an Indian rhythmic tal with sixteen beats, in four equal divisions. 
• Tirobhav - Tirobhav basically means the process of concealing a raga on a temporary basis. 
• Tivra - Tivra means the highest state (pitch) of the two notes, madhyama and nishad.
• Uttarang - Uttarang is the higher tetra-chord of an octave, which comprises of Pa, Dha, Ni and Sa notes. 
• Vadi - Vadi is the note that holds the maximum importance in a raga. 
• Vakra - Vakra Raga is one of the four Janya Ragas and has swaras in a non-sequential order.
• Varana - The four Varanas are the four basic ways, on the basis of which musical tones are organized. 
• Varjit - Varjit note is the note that is deleted from the Arohi or Avarohi of its derivative Ragas.
• Vikrit - Vikrit notes are the modified notes used in the raga.
• Vilambit - The term Vilambit is used to denote the slow speed or tempo of the Tal.
• Vivadi - Vivadi notes are those notes that are either not included in a raga or are used very rarely.