Glossary · glossary · 1 min read

Alankar

अलंकार; a note pattern for practice

An alankar is a fixed pattern of notes repeated up and down a scale as a practice exercise. Students sing alankars daily to practise note pitch and build speed.

By John, Music lover from Bangalore · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 29 Sept 2026

Alankar

An alankar is a fixed pattern of notes repeated up and down the scale as a practice exercise. The simplest is the straight scale. Next come pairs, such as Sa Re, Re Ga, Ga Ma.

Sa Re Ga, Re Ga Ma, Ga Ma Pa

Here, each three-note group starts one note higher. Continue the pattern up to the top Sa, then work back down.

Students sing alankars every day to fix the pitch of each swara, meaning a note, and to build speed. The repeated shape gives practice a clear structure.

The word also means ornament in Sanskrit poetics. In older music theory, an alankar could mean any melodic figure, not just a practice pattern.

Where alankar appears and what it sounds like

You will meet alankars, fixed note patterns repeated up and down a scale, in daily singing practice. Students use them to fix the pitch of each swara, or note, and to build speed.

The simplest pattern is the straight scale: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa. Next come pairs, such as Sa Re, Re Ga, Ga Ma, followed by triplets and longer shapes.

Sa Re Ga, Re Ga Ma, Ga Ma Pa

Each group starts one note higher. The exercise continues to the top Sa and comes back down.

Keep going

Sa Re Ga Ma: sargam explained for beginners · Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni are Indian music’s seven basic notes; sargam means singing or writing melodies with these syllables. To read and sing sargam, choose your home Sa, follow the note names and octave marks, and recognise the natural, lowered and raised forms.