Glossary · glossary · 1 min read
Tivra
तीव्र; raised
Tivra means sharp, the raised form of a note in Indian music. Only Ma has a tivra form, written Ma' on BeatRootRaga pages.
By SJN, Founder, BeatRootRaga · Reviewed by BRR · Last reviewed 27 Sept 2026
What does tivra mean?
Tivra means sharp, the raised form of a note. Only Ma has a tivra form. Ma is one of Indian music’s seven basic notes: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni.
These note names are used in sargam, which means singing or writing melodies with these syllables. When you read them, recognising a raised form helps you tell it apart from the natural note.
This is a short definition. For the full explanation, visit Sa Re Ga Ma: sargam explained for beginners.
An example of tivra and where to read more
Raga Yaman gives you an example of tivra, meaning sharp or raised. A raga is a melodic framework. Yaman uses tivra Ma, while all its other notes are natural. Ma is the only note with a tivra form.
Set Sa, your home note, to C. In this example, Yaman’s raised Ma is F sharp. On BeatRootRaga pages, you will see it written as Ma'. That mark tells you to read Ma as raised.
To put that notation in context, continue with the sargam teaching page, where tivra is explained fully. Sargam means singing or writing melodies with Indian note syllables. The page covers how to recognise natural, lowered and raised note forms.
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.
- Raga Yaman (Kalyani) · Yaman is a seven-note Hindustani raga, a melodic framework, with a raised fourth; Kalyani shares its scale but uses different phrasing and ornaments. Traditionally associated with evening, Yaman can sound serene or devotional; hear its character through Ni Re Ga, starting below Sa, the home note.