Glossary · glossary · 1 min read

Sargam

सरगम

Sargam means singing or writing a melody using the note names Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni instead of words. The word comes from the first four names, Sa Re Ga Ma.

By SJN, Founder, BeatRootRaga · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 27 Sept 2026

What does sargam mean?

Sargam is the practice of singing or writing a melody using note names instead of words. Those names are Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni.

The word sargam comes from the first four note names: Sa, Re, Ga and Ma. Its name points to the syllables used to sing or write the melody.

Sargam is used for teaching and for writing down songs. It also appears in performance, when singers improvise fast runs of note names rather than singing words.

This is a short definition. For the full explanation, read Sa Re Ga Ma: sargam explained for beginners on BeatRootRaga.

An example of sargam and where to read more

Here is sargam, a melody sung or written with note names instead of words, for a plain ascending scale:

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa'

The apostrophe after the final Sa marks the upper Sa. These note names take the place of song words.

For help reading and singing beyond this example, follow the full explanation. It covers choosing your home Sa, following the note names and their marks, and recognising natural, lowered and raised forms of notes.

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.