Happy Birthday first song
S S R S M G · S S R S P M …The universal first melody — four lines, one black key, one octave jump.
Om Jai Jagdish Hare aarti
S S · S S S Ṇ · S R …The universal aarti — all white keys, built around Sa and the dip below it.
Jana Gana Mana anthem
S R · G G · G G · G G G G G · R G · MThe national anthem's opening line — fourteen even beats, three white keys.
Vande Mataram national song
S R · M P M PSix notes that skip Ga on the way up — the raga Desh opening everyone knows.
Jai Ganesh Deva Ganesh aarti
S S R R · G G G G · G G M GThree adjacent white keys for the whole opening — the gentlest aarti to start on.
Sukhkarta Dukhharta Ganpati aarti
P̣ P̣ · S S S S S SStarts below Sa and leaps up a fourth — the aarti that teaches the pickup note.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara Shiv aarti
S S · S S S Ṇ · S RSame melody as Om Jai Jagdish Hare, different words — learn one, get both.
Jai Ambe Gauri Durga aarti
S S · S S S Ṇ · S RThe Navratri aarti — same tune family as Om Jai Jagdish Hare.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki Krishna aarti
P P P M P · n n D P M G ROpens high on Pa and walks a full octave down — the aarti that teaches hand travel.
Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Durga aarti
R g R g R · S SKomal Ga from the first phrase — the plaintive one among the household aartis.
New to reading sargam?
- The harmonium notes chart — which key is which swara, komal and tivra, and the 10-thaat system.
- Sargam notation explained — the system behind the syllables.
- The beginner guide — bellows, drone, and a first five-minute practice.
- The web harmonium itself — every song here opens there with one tap, alongside drone, recording and video capture.