Harmonium Notes
Complete Sargam Notation Guide & Scale Reference for Indian Classical Music
The harmonium uses the Sargam notation system — the foundation of Indian classical music. Whether you are a beginner learning your first notes or an intermediate player exploring Thaat scales, this reference covers every note, its frequency relationship, Western equivalent, and how to play it on Web Harmonium.
The Seven Sargam Notes (Shuddha Swar)
Sargam is to Indian music what Solfège (Do Re Mi) is to Western music. The seven pure (Shuddha) notes form the foundation of all ragas and melodies.
The tonic note — always fixed, the foundation of every raga
The second note — creates the first melodic step from Sa
The third note — defines major or minor character of a raga
The fourth note — pivotal, with two important variants
The fifth note — always fixed like Sa, a perfect consonance
The sixth note — adds emotional depth and color to ragas
The seventh note — resolves upward to the next Sa
Vikrit Swar (Altered Notes / Sharps & Flats)
Besides the seven pure notes, Indian music uses five altered notes (Vikrit Swar). These are the equivalent of sharps and flats in Western music, and they are played on the black keys.
Flattened Rishabha — used in ragas like Bhairavi and Todi
Flattened Gandhara — gives a minor, contemplative quality
Sharpened Madhyama — used in ragas like Yaman and Marwa
Flattened Dhaivata — common in evening and night ragas
Flattened Nishada — essential in ragas like Kafi and Asavari
The 10 Thaat System — Parent Scales of Indian Music
A Thaat is a parent scale from which ragas are derived. The Bhatkhande system classifies all ragas into 10 Thaat families. Each Thaat uses all seven notes (Sa to Ni) with specific Komal or Tivra variations.
| Thaat | Notes | Western Equivalent | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilawal | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni | C Major / Ionian | Bright, happy, morning |
| Khamaj | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha ni | Mixolydian | Romantic, light classical |
| Kafi | Sa Re ga Ma Pa Dha ni | Dorian | Devotional, rainy season |
| Asavari | Sa Re ga Ma Pa dha ni | Aeolian / Natural Minor | Serious, contemplative |
| Bhairavi | Sa re ga Ma Pa dha ni | Phrygian | Devotional, morning, closing piece |
| Kalyan | Sa Re Ga Ma' Pa Dha Ni | Lydian | Serene, evening, peaceful |
| Marwa | Sa re Ga Ma' Pa Dha Ni | No direct Western equivalent | Serious, late afternoon |
| Poorvi | Sa re Ga Ma' Pa dha Ni | No direct Western equivalent | Serious, sunset |
| Todi | Sa re ga Ma' Pa dha Ni | No direct Western equivalent | Serious, morning, meditative |
| Bhairav | Sa re Ga Ma Pa dha Ni | Double Harmonic Major | Majestic, early morning |
Keyboard Mapping on Web Harmonium
On Web Harmonium, your laptop keyboard maps directly to harmonium notes. The layout spans about 2 octaves — from lower Pa to upper Ga. White keys play Shuddha (natural) notes, and black keys play Vikrit (altered) notes.
Playable White Keys
S (Ṗ) · A (Ḍ) · ` (Ṇ) · Q (Ḍ) · W (Ṇ) · E (S) · R (R) · T (G) · Y (M) · U (P) · I (D) · O (N) · P (Ṡ) · [ (Ṙ) · ] (Ġ) · \ (Ṁ) · ' (Ṗ) · ; (Ḋ)
Playable Black Keys
1 (Ṗ) · 2 (Ḍ) · 4 (S) · 5 (R) · 7 (M) · 8 (P) · 9 (D) · - (Ṡ) · = (Ṙ)
How to Practice Harmonium Notes
Start with Sa and Pa
These two notes are fixed (Achal Swar) and never change between ragas. Play Sa-Pa-Sa repeatedly to train your ear for the perfect fifth interval.
Learn the Bilawal Scale
The Bilawal Thaat (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa) is the equivalent of the C Major scale. Practice ascending (Aroha) and descending (Avaroha) until smooth.
Add Komal Notes
Once comfortable with Shuddha notes, introduce Komal Re and Komal Ga. Practice the Kafi scale (Sa Re ga Ma Pa Dha ni) to feel the difference.
Explore Tivra Ma
The Kalyan Thaat (Sa Re Ga Ma' Pa Dha Ni) uses Tivra Ma. This single note change creates a completely different mood — serene and evening-like.
Practice Simple Compositions
Start with simple bhajans or film songs that use 5-7 notes. Play slowly, focusing on correct notes and smooth transitions between keys.
FAQ — Harmonium Notes
How many notes does a harmonium have?
A standard harmonium has 12 notes per octave — 7 Shuddha (pure) notes and 5 Vikrit (altered) notes, totaling the same 12 semitones as Western music. Most harmoniums span 3 to 3.5 octaves (36-42 keys).
What is the difference between Sargam and Western notation?
Sargam (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni) is the Indian equivalent of Solfège (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti). The key difference is that Sa is not fixed to a specific frequency — it can be set to any pitch, and all other notes are relative to it.
What are Komal and Tivra notes?
Komal means flattened (lowered by a semitone) and Tivra means sharpened (raised by a semitone). Re, Ga, Dha, and Ni can be Komal. Only Ma can be Tivra. Sa and Pa are always fixed.
How do I choose which Thaat to practice?
Start with Bilawal (all Shuddha notes, like C Major). Then try Khamaj and Kafi for slight variations. Each Thaat creates a different mood — Bilawal is bright, Bhairavi is devotional, Kalyan is serene. Match the Thaat to the time of day or the mood you want to express.