WHAT IS SWAR

A Swar is a distinct tone that is reproducible and pleasing to the ear. There are 7 main Swars (Shadaj or Sa, Rishabh or Re, Gandhar or Ga, Madhyam or Ma, Pancham or Pa, Dhaivat or Dha and Nishad or Ni) and 5 variants (Komal Re, Komal Ga, Tivra or Tivra Ma, Komal Dha and Komal Ni). The main Swars are also referred to as Shuddha Swars. Shadaj and Pancham are “Achal” or fixed. There are no variants for them. A Komal Swar is half-way before the corresponding main Swar. As an example, Komal Re is between Shadaj and Shuddha Rishabh and the Tivra Madhyam is midway between the Shuddha Madhyam and Pancham.