Basic theory of "Thaat".

What is "Thaat"?

A group of seven notes which is capable of producing raag is known as Thaat.

10 Thaats of northern hindustani classical music or 10 Thaats of V.N. Bhatkhande:- 

1. Bilawal Thaat :- This thaat comprises of all shudh swaras i.e sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni .

2. Kalyan Thaat :-   This thaat comprises of six shudh swaras and one teevra vikrit swar i.e  teevra  "MA".

                                sa Re Ga MA Pa Dha Ni 

3.Khamaj Thaat :-  This thaat comprises of six shudh swaras and one komal vikrit swar i.e komal "ni".

                                 sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha ni 

4.Kaafi Thaat  :- This thaat comprises of five shudh swaras and two komal vikrit  swaras i.e komal "ga", "ni".

                            sa Re ga Ma Pa Dha ni 

5.Bhairav Thaat :- This thaat comprises of five shudh swaras and two komal vikrit swaras i.e komal re and dha .

                             sa re Ga Ma Pa dha Ni

6.Marwa Thaat :-This thaat comprises of five shudh swaras and two  vikrit swaras i.e komal re and teevra MA.

                             sa re Ga MA Pa Dha Ni 

7.Poorvi Thaat :- This thaat comprises of four shudh swaras and three vikrit swaras i.e komal re, dha and teevra Ma

                           sa re Ga MA Pa dha Ni

8.Asawari Thaat :- This thaat comprises of four shudh swaras and three komal vikrit swaras i.e ga, dha and ni.

                              sa Re ga Ma Pa dha ni

9.Bhairavi Thaat :- This thaat comprises of three shudh swaras and four komal vikrit swaras i.e re, ga, dha and ni.

                               sa re ga Ma Pa dha ni 

10. Todi Thaat :- This thaat comprises of three shudh swaras and four komal vikrit swaras i.e re ga dha and teevra MA.

                           sa re ga MA Pa dha Ni 

Characteristics of Thaat:- 

1.Thaat must consist of atleast seven notes.

2. Position of notes in a thaat must be in a sequential manner i.e sa re ga ma respectively.

3. Two forms of a note (Shudh & komal) in a thaat can't be taken together.

4. A single thaat is capable of producing many ragas.

*** Terms to be remembered:- 

Saptak:-  Saptak is formed when seven shudh and five vikrit swaras come together in a sequential manner.

Shudh swaras :- Basic seven notes of hindustani classical music i.e sa re ga ma pa dha ni.

Vikrit swaras :- Swaras, which can slip up and down from their location is calles as vikrit swaras. Northern hindustani classical music has two types of vikrit swaras -

1. Komal vikrit swaras :- Swaras, which slip down from their location are called komal vikrit swaras. Northern hindustani classical music has four komal vikrit swaras i.e re,  ga, dha, ni.

2. Teevra vikrit swaras :- Northern hindustani classical music has only one teevra vikrit swar i.e MA, it is called as teevra vikrit swar because it slip upwars from its location.