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Ragas and Talas/Taal – Class 7 Arts Chapter 7 Notes & NCERT PDF

Class 7ArtsChapter 7NCERT book: Kriti - Arts Class 7

Notes and a simple summary of Chapter 7 of the NCERT Class 7 Arts book, with the official chapter PDF, flashcards, an MCQ quiz and an AI tutor for your doubts.

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Chapter 7: Ragas and Talas/Taal (Music)

Introduction

The chapter opens with a verse from the Natyashastra naming the seven notes:

षड्जश्च ऋषभश्चैव गान्धारो मध्यमस्तथा । पञ्चमो धैवतश्चैव सप्तमोऽथ निषादवान् ॥
Ṣhaḍjaśhcha Ṛiṣhabhaśh chaiva Gāndhāro Madhyamas tathā. Pañchamo Dhaivataśh chaiva saptamo'tha Niṣhādavān.
The seven notes practised in the time of the Natyashastra: Sadaj, Rishabh, Gandhar, Madhyam, Pancham, Dhaivat and Nishad.

Each year you build on both styles of Indian classical music, Carnatic and Hindustani. This year you learn more compositions, ragas and talas, and look for links between the two styles.

Key Ideas

Where the notes came from

The notes of Indian classical music grew out of the ritual chanting of the Sāmaveda. At first the Vedas were chanted on three notes:

  • Udatta — the normal or medium tone
  • Anudatta — the note that is not raised, i.e. the lower note
  • Svarita — the raised, higher pitch

    • These gradually evolved into the seven notes (sapta swara) used in music today.

    Carnatic music: talas

    There are seven main talas in Carnatic music: Dhruva, Matya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata and Eka.

    A tala is built from three parts (angas):

  • Laghu — a clap followed by finger counts, written I. The number of beats in a laghu (its jathi) can vary; at this level each laghu has 4 beats (I4).
  • Drutam — a clap and a wave, written O.
  • Anudrutam — a single beat, written U.

    • The sapta tala alankaras are a popular set of vocal exercises that build vocal strength and a feel for tala. This year you sing the first three:

  • Dhruva tala: I4 O I4 I4
  • Matya tala: I4 O I4
  • Rupaka tala: O I4 (first line: S R | S R G M ||)

    • The alankaras are built on patterns, so you can invent your own sargam patterns as vocal exercises.

    Carnatic composition: a swarajati

    Adi tala is a rhythm cycle of 8 beats. A swarajati is a very old Carnatic form made of swaras and sometimes lyrics. It usually has three parts: pallavi (refrain or chorus), anupallavi (a short section after the pallavi) and one or more charanams (verses).

  • Ra Ra Venu — Ragam Bilahari, Talam Adi, language Telugu, composer Patnam Subramania Iyer.
  • Arohanam: S R2 G3 P D2 Ṡ
  • Avarohanam: Ṡ N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Sing the arohana and avarohana first, then keep tala as you sing.

    • Hindustani music: notes and ragas

    The Hindustani system has 12 notes:

  • seven shuddha: S R G M P D N
  • four komal: R G D N
  • one teevra: M

    • Classical music is a dharohar, a treasure passed down the generations. Ragas express emotions and create moods. According to the Samay Chakra (time theory of Hindustani ragas), ragas are sung at particular times of day: Raga Bhairav is a morning raga, while Raga Yaman is generally sung in the evening.

    Hindustani talas

    Learn to count these talas and recite their bols (syllables):

  • Jhaptala — 10 matras: Dhee Naa / Dhee Dhee Naa / Tee Naa / Dhee Dhee Naa. Signs: x, 2, 0, 3.
  • Rupak — 7 matras: Tee Tee Naa / Dhee Naa / Dhee Naa. Signs: 0, 1, 2.
  • Ektaal — 12 matras: Dhin Dhin / Dhage Tirkit / Tu Na / Kat Ta / Dhage Tirkit / Dhi Na. Signs: x, 0, 2, 0, 3, 4.
  • Teentaal — 16 beats: Dha Dhin Dhin Dha / Dha Dhin Dhin Dha / Dha Tin Tin Ta / Ta Dhin Dhin Dha. Signs: X, 2, 0, 3.

    • Raga Bhairavi

  • Thaat: Bhairavi
  • Jati: Sampoorn–Sampoorn
  • Komal swar: R, G, D, N
  • Varjit swar: none
  • Samvadi: Shadaj
  • Singing time: early morning
  • Aroh: S R G M P D N Ṡ
  • Avroh: Ṡ N D P M G R S
  • Pakad: M G S R S D N Ṡ

    • Compositions in Raga Bhairavi:

  • a Sargam Geet in Ektaal;
  • a Chota Khayal in Teentaal, "Kaisi ye bhalai rey kanhai…" (from Kramik Pustak Mallika Part 2);
  • a Tarana in Teentaal ("Dir Dir Ta Na De Re Na…").

    • Ustad Zakir Hussain (1951–2024)

  • A renowned tabla maestro, and the son of tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
  • He played at concerts from about the age of seven and toured from twelve.
  • He accompanied legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and was a founding member of the band Shakti.
  • His awards include the Padma Vibhushan, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and three Grammy awards.

    • Activities and Exercises

  • Sing the first three sapta tala alankaras while keeping tala with your hands.
  • Sing Ra Ra Venu after its arohana and avarohana.
  • Recite the bols of Jhaptala, Rupak, Ektaal and Teentaal.
  • Activity 7.1: learn simple rhythms from a tabla teacher if your school has one.
  • Exercises: count the sections of Teentaal and Rupak, identify Carnatic talas from their angas, and unscramble raga names such as BHAIRAV, YAMAN, KHAMAJ, MOHANA, BILAHARI and SHANKARABHARANAM.

    • Key Terms

  • Sapta swara (सप्त स्वर) — the seven notes
  • Raga (राग) — melodic framework
  • Tala / Taal (ताल) — rhythm cycle
  • Matra (मात्रा) — a beat or unit of a tala
  • Theka / Bol (ठेका / बोल) — the syllables of a tala
  • Anga (अंग) — a part of a Carnatic tala
  • Laghu / Drutam / Anudrutam (लघु / द्रुतम् / अनुद्रुतम्) — the three angas
  • Komal / Teevra (कोमल / तीव्र) — flat / sharp notes
  • Shuddha (शुद्ध) — natural note
  • Samay Chakra (समय चक्र) — time theory of ragas
  • Pakad (पकड़) — characteristic phrase of a raga
  • Varjit swar (वर्जित स्वर) — omitted note
  • Swarajati (स्वरजति) — Carnatic form
  • Pallavi / Anupallavi / Charanam (पल्लवी / अनुपल्लवी / चरणम्) — parts of a composition

    • Artists and Traditions Mentioned

    Gangubai Hangal, Aruna Sairam (Carnatic vocalist), Patnam Subramania Iyer, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Alla Rakha, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and ragamala painting.

    Connect to Your Life

    Morning prayers and evening bhajans often feel different, and the Samay Chakra explains why. Try clapping the Teentaal cycle while listening to a Hindi film song; many popular songs fit a 16-beat cycle.

    Common Mistakes

  • Mixing up the Carnatic notation: I is laghu (clap and finger counts), O is drutam (clap and wave), U is anudrutam.
  • Counting a laghu with the wrong number of beats. At this level it is 4.
  • Confusing Rupak (7 matras, 3 sections) with Teentaal (16 beats, 4 sections).
  • Forgetting that Bhairavi uses four komal notes: R, G, D and N.
  • Thinking a raga can be any random set of notes. A raga follows rules (aroh, avroh, pakad, varjit swar).

    • Let's Reflect

  • Which tala did you find easiest to keep while singing?
  • What similarities did you notice between the Carnatic alankaras and the Hindustani sargam geet?
  • Why might a raga sound more effective at a particular time of day?

    • 💡 Key Learning Points

    • ✓Knows the seven notes (from the Natyashastra) and how they evolved from Vedic chanting in Udatta, Anudatta and Svarita
    • ✓Understands Carnatic tala structure (laghu, drutam, anudrutam) and sings the first three sapta tala alankaras
    • ✓Knows the 12 Hindustani notes (7 shuddha, 4 komal, 1 teevra) and the Samay Chakra of ragas
    • ✓Counts and recites the bols of Jhaptala, Rupak, Ektaal and Teentaal with their signs
    • ✓Sings simple classical compositions (Ra Ra Venu in Bilahari; Raga Bhairavi pieces) with correct notes and tala

    👨‍🏫 Teaching Tips

    • →Begin with the Natyashastra verse and have students match the seven note names to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni
    • →Teach laghu, drutam and anudrutam as hand actions first, then let students clap Dhruva, Matya and Rupaka
    • →Sing each alankara slowly while the class keeps tala, then gradually increase the laya
    • →Before each composition, practise its arohana and avarohana; for Bhairavi, highlight the four komal notes
    • →Use a 'tala relay': each group recites one section of a Hindustani tala in turn, marking signs such as x and 0
    • →Play a morning raga and an evening raga to discuss the Samay Chakra
    • →Show a video of Ustad Zakir Hussain and, if possible, invite a tabla teacher for Activity 7.1

    📋 Assessment Questions

    1. Can the student name the seven notes from the Natyashastra and the three Vedic tones?
    2. Can the student identify a Carnatic tala from its angas (e.g. I O I I = Dhruva)?
    3. Can the student recite the bols and count the matras of Rupak, Jhaptala, Ektaal and Teentaal?
    4. Does the student sing a composition with the correct notes of the raga while keeping tala?
    5. Can the student describe Raga Bhairavi (komal notes, singing time, aroh and avroh)?

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    Keep learning

    All chapters in Kriti - Arts Class 7

    1. 1. Understanding Emotions
    2. 2. Say More without Speech — Mime
    3. 3. Let’s Design — Stage Technicals 2
    4. 4. Story of India’s Storytelling Tradition
    5. 5. Making Music
    6. 6. Music, Emotions and Creativity
    7. 7. Ragas and Talas/Taal
    8. 8. The Music of the People
    9. 9. Performance
    10. 10. Dance and Sculpture
    11. 11. Dance Vocabulary and Techniques
    12. 12. Dance, You and Creativity
    13. 13. Personalities
    14. 14. Natya
    15. 15. Objects in Icons and Symbols
    16. 16. Nature’s Palette
    17. 17. How You Feel
    18. 18. Textiles and Traditions
    19. 19. The Art of Calligraphy
    20. 20. Integration of All Art Forms — Sculptures Come Alive!