Systems of Music Written by: Ram S. Sriram
Two systems of Music	Melodic and Harmonic. The melodic system is more prevalent in India and a few other Eastern countries.
The Melodic System and the Harmonic System	In both systems, there are seven basic notes. In Carnatic music, the seven notes are known by the names: Shadjam (Sa), Rishabam (Ri), Gandharam (Ga), Madhyamam (Ma), Panchamam (Pa), Dhaivatham (Da) and Nishadam (Ni). WhenSa is the base note, the other six notes will be successively higher to the basic Sa, forming an ascending scale of seven notes. Once the seventh note is reached, the notes will begin descending from the higher Sa to the Ni, Da and so on at the same frequency interval. We now have an ascending and descending scale or a raga with seven swaras or notes. In the melodic system, music progresses with succession of individual notes. In the harmonic system, music progresses by group of notes, called chords. Individual notes of a chord are related to each other using the laws of consonance (agreement, harmony).
Harmonic (Equal Temperament scale) and Melodic (Just Intonation scale).	The harmonic system is based on the principle of Equal temperament scale. When the interval between two notes are exact, it is called an Equal Temperament Scale. For example, Note: S R G M P D N S Frequency: 0 200 400 500 700 900 1100 1200 cents · The Melodic system is based on the principle of Just Intonation scale. When the interval between to notes are not exact, but relative, it is called a Just Intonation Scale. In this system, two notes do not have the same interval and because of the gamakas (or shaking modulations of the note), precise frequency is not determined. A swara (unlike a note) is less precise and can only be learnt by listening. The following example illustrates the Just Intonation Scale. Note: S R G M P D N S Frequency: 0 204 386 498 702 906 1088 1200 cents Note: Compare the interval frequencies between the Equal Temperament Scale and Just Intonation Scale and note the differences.
The Attributes of the Melodic System (Carnatic Music).	Is called one-dimensional or horizontal music It gives greater freedom to the performing artist and allows each artist in the group to exhibit their talent and knowledge. Gamaka or graceful modulations of the notes is more commonly used in melodic system (and even more prominently in Carnatic Music). Neither Carnatic music nor Hindustani music is written to a specific key and the singer or the instrument player can choose a convenient pictch to sing or play an instrument.
Which system is better?	Both are equally great systems. They are just two different approaches to producing great music.
The two Indian music systems - Carnatic Music and Hindustani Music	For thousands of years, there was only one Indian music system. Division into Karnatic (more prevalent in the Southern India) and Hindustani music (more prevalent in Northern India) came into vogue much later, around 1309-1312 (Ref. South Indian Music by Prof. Sambamurthy). The two systems are quite similar and use similar swaras and sruti (Pitch classifications). The two systems are differentiated only by the approach to singing of the notes and during the exposition of the ragas.