L1 - Intro to Indian Classical Music

Lesson Objectives

  • Know and have a basic understanding of Indian culture with regards to Indian music.

  • Recognise Indian Classical instruments and their functions with Ragas

ICM - L1

The Sitar

  • Plays the MELODY in Indian music


  • Used for solo IMPROVISATION


  • Stringed instrument with gourd sound box, a long neck and moveable FRETS


  • SEVEN main strings - one is the MELODY STRING while other notes play the DRONE NOTES


  • There are other SYMPATHETIC STRINGS which are not played but vibrate, giving the sitar its characteristic sound


  • The melody string is often pulled to BEND notes, giving a twanging sound.

The Tabla

  • A pair of single headed DRUMS


  • Different parts of the drum head make different sound which are produced by different combinations of finger movements as the tabla player IMPROVISES around the TALA

The Tambura

  • A DRONE instrument similar in shape to the SITAR


  • It is played vertically and has only FOUR STRINGS each tuned to the DRONE NOTES

Ragas and Talas

  • Melodic and rhythmic improvisations are the most important aspects of Indian music.


  • Melodic improvisation is based on scales calls RAGAS, and rhythmic improvisation is based upon cycles of beats called TALAS.


  • Talas are cycles of 4-16 or more beats which are used as a basis for rhythmic improvisation.


  • The word “raga” has several meanings. In addition to being a scale of notes it is also a mood or feeling, a series of melodic motifs or fragments that are used in performance, and is the name given to a long piece of music in several sections based upon all of these.


  • The skill of improvisation is central in Indian music, and performers are judged on their ability to improvise imaginatively within the frameworks of the raga and the tala. In performances, the audience gestures and voices their approval when an exciting improvisation has taken place.

Rupak Tala