Skip to content
Web Harmonium

Altered swara positions

Komal and Tivra Swaras

Hear which swaras can be lowered or raised and map all twelve positions around Sa.

Key map & tutorial help
Keys + touch

Z stops keys

On mobile, swipe the keys sideways and tap to play. Labels show the sounding pitch.

Guided practice

Three-note turn

Listen for the rhythm, then follow the glowing key. Practice checks note order and octave at your pace.

ESa1 beatRRe1 beatTGa1 beatRRe1 beatESa1 beatReady
My song keys · Write, play and download

Capture the keys you play, or type a short phrase from your own notes. Each captured note starts at 1 beat. Use E:2 for a held key and _ for a rest. Touch-only notes use Western names, such as C6:2. Up to 48 notes per phrase.

Your notes stay on this device. Copying a phrase link includes those notes for its recipient.

A gentle first round

Keep the drone low. Match one note before adding speed.

Today’s target

Three clean repetitions are better than one rushed run.

Sa and Pa are achal

In the elementary twelve-position system, Sa and Pa do not have komal or tivra variants. Re, Ga, Ma, Dha, and Ni are the movable or chal swaras.

Komal does not mean quiet

Komal names a lower pitch position, not a softer volume or weaker musical role. A komal swara may be strongly emphasised in a raga.

Notation varies

This site uses lowercase re, ga, dha, and ni for komal positions and Ma♯ for tivra Ma. Printed traditions may use underlines, vertical marks, or other symbols.

Beginner practice

  1. Alternate Re and komal re over Sa.
  2. Compare Ma and tivra Ma without changing volume.
  3. Name all twelve positions chromatically.

Common mistakes

  • Calling a black key automatically komal.
  • Calling tivra Ma a louder Ma.
  • Ignoring the chosen Sa when mapping the positions.

Sources and editorial note

This page was prepared from the references below and checked against the interactive tools. Instrument designs and teaching lineages vary; corrections with a source are welcome.

Editorial and interactive check completed · Specialist teacher review not recorded · Updated 25 August 2026