"Beyond the Hammers: Mastering the Sargam Foundation for Santoor Players"

Sharanya naidu
5 days ago
2 min read

Hello, aspiring Santoor player! You've chosen a beautiful and complex instrument, and the first key to unlocking its melodies is mastering the basics of Sargam.

In Indian Classical Music (Hindustani or Carnatic), the Sargam is the foundation—it's our version of the Western C-D-E-F-G-A-B, but with a deeper focus on pitch movement and expression. Think of it as the musical alphabet you must learn before you can read or write a song.

What is Sargam?

Sargam is an acronym for the first four notes: Sa-Re**-Ga-M**a. The full seven notes are:

Shadja (Sa): The Tonic.
Rishabh (Re):
Gandhar (Ga):
Madhyam (Ma):
Pancham (Pa): The Perfect Fifth.
Dhaivat (Dha):
Nishad (Ni):

1. The Anchors: Sa and Pa

Every Raga (melodic structure) starts and ends with a solid foundation. On the Santoor, this foundation is provided by:

Sa (Shadja): This is the Tonic or the root note. It is the permanent anchor around which all other notes revolve. Whatever pitch you tune your Santoor to (often C or D), that becomes your 'Sa.'
Pa (Pancham): This is the Perfect Fifth interval from Sa. It is the second fixed note and provides stability and resonance.

2. The Movers: Re, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni

The remaining five notes are the "chal swaras" (movable notes). These are the notes that determine the character of a Raga by having two or three possible positions:

Komal (Flat): These are a half-step lower than the natural (Shuddha) notes (e.g., r,g,d,n).
Shuddha (Natural): The standard, natural pitch (e.g., Re, Ga, Dha, Ni).
Tivra (Sharp): This applies only to Ma, making it a half-step higher than the natural M').

Finding Sargam on the Santoor

The Santoor, with its grid of strings and bridges, visually represents the notes of Sargam.

Tuning: Initially, your Santoor is likely tuned to a simple, seven-note scale like Raga Bilawal (the equivalent of a major scale, using all Shuddha/natural notes).
Navigation: Start by identifying the Sa string in the Mandra Saptak (lower octave).
The Ascent (Aroh): Practice striking the notes sequentially, moving from lower to higher pitch: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, and then hitting the Sa of the next octave (Taar Saptak). Use your mallets in strict alternation (Right, Left, Right, Left...).
The Descent (Avaroh): Practice the reverse: Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma, Ga, Re, Sa.

Your First Practice Routine

Single Stroke: Strike each note clearly and cleanly, allowing it to ring before gently muting it or moving to the next note. Focus on a light, effortless strike from the wrist.
Rhythm Check: Play the entire scale up and down, making sure each note is struck with a uniform, steady beat (e.g., 4 beats per note, then 2, then 1).

Mastering Sargam is not just about memorizing names; it's about training your ear to hear the relationship between Sa and every other note. Once you can accurately and fluently play the Sargam, you are ready to begin exploring the wonderful world of Ragas!