Glossary · glossary · 1 min read
Nyasa
न्यास; the note a phrase rests on
Nyasa is the note on which a musical phrase comes to rest. You hear it in ragas, melodic frameworks in Indian classical music, where certain notes let a phrase pause and settle.
By John, Music lover from Bangalore · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 29 Sept 2026
Nyasa
Nyasa is the note on which a musical phrase comes to rest. A raga is a melodic framework for creating music and inventing melody during performance. Each raga has a few notes where a phrase can settle. Stopping on others can leave it sounding unfinished.
In Raga Bhoop, a phrase can rest on the notes Ga or Dha. In Yaman, it can rest on Ga or Ni. These resting places are part of a raga’s grammar, not just pauses between phrases.
Where you will hear it
In Raga Bhoop, a phrase can rest on Ga or Dha. A raga is a melodic framework for creating pieces and inventing melody during performance. In Yaman, a phrase can rest on Ga or Ni. These resting notes are examples of nyasa, the note on which a phrase settles.
Each raga has a few notes where the melody can settle. Other notes can leave a phrase sounding unfinished if it stops there. Knowing these resting places is part of knowing the raga’s grammar.
You will also meet the term in Carnatic theory. Nyasa is one of the dasha lakshana, the ten features that define a raga. Resting places belong to that definition, alongside the other features.
Keep going
- What is a raga? A plain-language guide for listeners · A raga is a melodic framework in Indian classical music for creating pieces and inventing melody during performance. Listen for four things: which notes appear, how the melody moves, where the musician lingers, and which short phrases return.