Notation systems

Bhatkhande notation (Hindustani)

V. N. Bhatkhande devised a simple notation that is widely used in North Indian music books.

• Notes are written as Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni (in Devanagari or Roman).
• Komal notes: a short horizontal line below the note (Re, Ga, Dha, Ni).
• Teevra Ma: a short vertical line above Ma.
• Mandra saptak (lower octave): a dot below the note.
• Taar saptak (upper octave): a dot above the note.
• Several notes in one matra are grouped with a curved line beneath them.
• A kan (grace note) is written small, above and before the main note.
• Meend is shown by a curved arc over the notes.

Taal signs

• Sam: X.
• Khali: 0.
• Taalis: numbered 2, 3, 4 in order after sam.
• Vibhag: a vertical line | separates sections.

For example, Teentaal is written with X under matra 1, 2 under matra 5, 0 under matra 9 and 3 under matra 13.

Karnatak taal notation

Karnatak taals are built from angas (parts), each with a symbol:

• Laghu (I): a clap followed by finger counts; its length depends on the jati.
• Drutam (O): a clap and a wave; 2 beats.
• Anudrutam (U): a single clap; 1 beat.

The five jatis fix the length of the laghu: tisra 3, chatusra 4, khanda 5, misra 7, sankeerna 9. Example: Adi taal = I4 O O = 4 + 2 + 2 = 8 beats. Seven suladi taals combined with five jatis give 35 taals.

Key points

• Komal = line below; teevra = line above; mandra = dot below; taar = dot above.
• Sam X, khali 0, taali numbers, vibhag |.
• Laghu I, drutam O (2), anudrutam U (1).
• Jati values 3, 4, 5, 7, 9; 7 taals × 5 jatis = 35.

Common mistakes

• Swapping the dot positions for mandra and taar.
• Forgetting that laghu has no fixed length; it depends on jati.