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Swara

Swara is a term used in Indian music and culture. In Indian classical music, swara (also svara) denotes a musical note or pitch. The concept is used in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions, where an octave is subdivided into seven notes that form the basis of scales, melodies, and improvisation. A swara can be sung, played on a melodic instrument, or rendered vocally; melodies are built from sequences and patterns of swaras, with further expression through ornamentation and phrasing. Ragas and talas structure music through the deliberate use of swaras and their temporal and tonal relationships.

The term derives from Sanskrit svara, meaning sound, voice, or pitch. In broader Indian music theory, svara

Swara is also a feminine given name in parts of South Asia, drawn from its musical meaning.

refers
to
tone
and
resonance
as
a
fundamental
property
of
sound,
and
is
related
to
the
naming
and
organization
of
notes
within
a
raga
or
scale.
Notable
individuals
with
the
name
include
Swara
Bhaskar,
an
Indian
actress
known
for
work
in
Hindi
cinema
and
public
discourse.
Beyond
personal
naming,
the
concept
of
swara
remains
central
to
Indian
classical
music
pedagogy
and
performance,
serving
as
the
basic
unit
for
melodic
construction
and
improvisation.