Diploma Music Project - Indian Music Terminology

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards defining key foundational concepts, pitch levels, tempos, and structural elements of Indian classical music from the Diploma Music Project.

Sangeetham

The traditional music of India, consisting of the combination of singing, instrumental music, and rhythm.

Naadham

The basic sound in Indian music, described as a pleasant and musical sound produced by vibrations that forms the foundation of Carnatic music and all musical expressions.

Sruti

The basic pitch or musical sound in Indian music, defined as the smallest audible difference in sound that the ear can recognize.

Sthayi

The range or level of musical notes in Indian music that indicates the position of notes in different pitch levels while singing or playing an instrument.

Mandra Sthayi

The lower octave pitch level in Indian music.

Madhya Sthayi

The middle octave pitch level in Indian music.

Tara Sthayi

The higher octave pitch level in Indian music.

Thalam

The rhythmic framework of Indian music, consisting of a fixed cycle of beats that maintains timing and regularity in a musical performance.

Swaram

A musical note in Indian music produced at a particular pitch. The seven basic swarams are Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni.

Layam

The speed or tempo of music that controls how fast or slow a song is performed and maintains smooth flow and rhythm.

Vilamba Layam

The slow tempo or speed of music in Carnatic music.

Madhyama Layam

The medium tempo or speed of music in Carnatic music.

Druta Layam

The fast tempo or speed of music in Carnatic music.

Avarthanam

One complete cycle of thalam in Indian music, which begins from the first beat and ends when the full rhythmic pattern is completed.

Arohanam

The ascending order of musical notes in a raga, where swarams move from lower pitch to higher pitch.

Avarohanam

The descending order of musical notes in a raga, where swarams move from higher pitch to lower pitch.

Saptakam

A group of seven musical notes in Indian music (Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni) forming the basic scale used in music.

Ashtakam

A set of eight musical notes in Indian music that includes the seven basic swarams (Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni) along with the higher Sa to form a complete octave.

Poorvangam

The first half of the musical scale in Indian music, including the swarams Sa, Ri, Ga, and Ma, forming the lower part of the octave.

Uttarangam

The second half of the musical scale in Indian music, including the swarams Pa, Da, Ni, and higher Sa, forming the upper part of the octave.

Nibandham

A musical composition set to a fixed thalam that follows definite rhythmic rules with a proper structure, fixed timing, and pattern.