NCERT Class 9 Arts Madhurima: Chapter 8 — Rāga and Tāla
This chapter, "Rāga and Tāla," from NCERT's Madhurima for Class 9 Arts, revisits the fundamental building blocks of Indian classical music: Nāda, Śhruti, and Svara. It explains the seven basic notes (Svaras) – S, R, G, M, P, D, N – and their classification into invariant (achala) and variant (chala) types. The text details the 12 note positions (svara-sthānas) within an octave (saptak), comprising 2 achala-svaras (S and P) and 10 chala-svaras with their higher and lower variants. It highlights that these 7 notes and 12 positions are consistent across Hindustani and Carnatic music, though variant names differ. The chapter aims to reinforce foundational musical concepts essential for understanding Indian classical music within the CBSE curriculum.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 9 |
| Subject | Arts |
| Book | Madhurima |
| Chapter | Chapter 8 — Rāga and Tāla |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 251 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the concepts of Nāda, Śhruti, and Svara.
- Identify the seven basic notes (Svaras) in Indian music.
- Differentiate between achala (invariant) and chala (variant) svaras.
- Recognize the 12 note positions (svara-sthānas) within an octave.
- Understand the concept of Mandra, Madhya, and Tāra saptakas.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nāda | Musical sound |
| Śhruti | A sound that is heard clearly and can be recognised as distinct from another |
| Svara | A note in music |
| Saptak/Sthāyī | An octave or register in music |
| Achala-svara | Invariant notes |
| Prakṛiti-svara | Invariant notes |
| Chala-svaras | Variant notes |
| Vikṛiti-svaras | Variant notes |
| Mandra | Lower octave |
| Madhya | Middle octave |
| Tāra | Higher octave |
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Practice questions
- What are the seven basic notes (svaras) in Indian music? Answer: The seven basic notes are S, R, G, M, P, D, N.
- Which two notes are considered invariant (achala-svaras)? Answer: S (Ṣhaḍja) and P (Pañchama) are the invariant notes.
- How many total note positions (svara-sthānas) are there in an octave? Answer: There are 12 total note positions.
- What are the three types of saptakas mentioned in the chapter? Answer: The three types are Mandra (lower), Madhya (middle), and Tāra (higher) saptakas.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nāda in music?
Nāda refers to a musical sound.
What is a Śhruti?
A Śhruti is a sound that is heard clearly and can be recognized as distinct from another.
How many basic notes (svaras) are there in Indian music?
There are seven basic notes: S, R, G, M, P, D, N.
What are achala-svaras?
Achala-svaras, also known as prakṛiti-svaras, are the invariant notes in Indian music, which are S and P.
What are chala-svaras?
Chala-svaras, also known as vikṛiti-svaras, are the notes that have higher and lower variants, namely R, G, M, D, and N.
What is a saptak?
A saptak, or octave/register, refers to a series of musical notes. Musicians typically perform in Mandra (lower), Madhya (middle), and Tāra (higher) saptakas.
Are the notes the same in Hindustani and Carnatic music?
Yes, the 7 notes and 12 note positions are the same in both Hindustani and Carnatic Music, although the variant names may differ.
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NCERT Class 9 Arts — Madhurima — Chapter 8 — Rāga and Tāla. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.