Notation for Indian and Western Music – Similarities and Differences

Music is not bound by any language. Throughout the world the same seven notes rule the heart of music lovers. Each language might have its own way of representing these notes, and sometimes the differences and similarities can be very interesting. We’ll take the Indian and Western style of notations and check out the interesting similarities and differences.

The seven natural notes are Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La and Ti. They are often expressed also as C, D, E, F, G, A and B. In India, the same notes are called “Shudh Swar” which literally means pure sounds – indicating the natural notes. They are expressed as Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni.

Indian Thaat (Sequence of Notes),  If you know the scale / Thaat of song then you can play that song yourself without any Notation.

Bilawal      C      D      E      F       G       A         B

                     Sa    Re    Ga    Ma  Pa    Dha    Ni

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Asawari    C      D      D#      F       G       G#      A#

                     Sa    Re    Ga      Ma   Pa     Dha    Ni

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Kalyan       C      D      E      F#       G       A         B

                     Sa    Re    Ga    Ma’     Pa    Dha    Ni

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Khamaj      C      D      E      F       G         A         A#

                     Sa    Re    Ga   Ma   Pa       Dha    Ni

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Poorvi        C      C#      E      F#       G       G#    B

                     Sa    Re      Ga   Ma’      Pa   Dha    Ni

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Todi             C      C#      D#      F#      G     G#     B

                      Sa    Re      Ga       Ma’     Pa   Dha Ni

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Bhairav      C      C#      E      F       G       G#        B

                      Sa    Re      Ga   Ma    Pa     Dha     Ni

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Kafi              C      D        D#      F       G       A       A#

                       Sa    Re      Ga    Ma     Pa    Dha    Ni

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Bhairavi      C      C#    D#    F       G       G#      A#

                        Sa    Re    Ga    Ma  Pa      Dha    Ni

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Marwa         C      C#     E       F#      A       B         C+

                       Sa    Re     Ga    Ma’     Pa    Dha    Ni

 

So we can establish a one to one correspondence between –

Do, C and Sa

Re, D and Re

Mi, E and Ga

Fa, F and Ma

So, G and Pa

La, A and Dha

Ti*, B and Ni