What are the 7 Swaras in Carnatic Music? (Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni Explained)

Swaras are musically significant pitch identities understood in relation to the chosen Aadhara Shruthi.

The seven swaras (Saptha-swaras):

1. Sa (Shadja)
2. Ri (Rishabha)
3. Ga (Gāndhāra)
4. Ma (Madhyama)
5. Pa (Panchama)
6. Da (Daivatha)
7. Ni (Nishādha)

Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni are the Sapthaswaras. 

• These seven Swaras form the foundational pitch framework of Carnatic music.
• Every melodic expression operates within this system of identities. In simple words, Swaras are the building blocks of melodies.
• Their identity is maintained even when the Aadhara Shruthi changes.

Among the seven, Sa and Pa are called Prakriti swaras. What does that mean? Sa and Pa are called Prakriti swaras because they do not have any variants. That means, in an octave (an octave refers to the interval between one Sa and the next higher or lower Sa),there is only one Sa and one Pa. 

Ri, Ga, Ma, Da and Ni are called Vikruthi Swaras, as they have variants like Ri1, Ri2, Ri3, Ga1, Ga2, Ga3, etc.

These pitch positions are called Swarasthānās. Learn about them here