Sargam notes from a recording

How it writes the notes

1. It follows the melody’s pitch through the recording, one reading every 20 milliseconds, on your own device.
2. It finds Sa, the note the melody rests on. If the singer’s Sa is a different key, tap it and every note is named again.
3. Every stretch held on one note for at least a tenth of a second becomes a note. Quick ornaments and glides pass through notes without resting on them, so they are left out.
4. It writes the notes in order: a dash for each extra beat a note is held, a comma for a pause, a new line for a longer one. Under each note is its harmonium or keyboard key.

Reading the notes

Lower case is komal (flat): r g d n are komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni. M is tivra Ma. A dot above a note is the upper octave (taar saptak), a dot below the lower (mandra saptak). The key under each note, such as C♯4, is the key to press on a harmonium or keyboard.

Saving and sharing

Copy as text puts the notes, with their keys lined up underneath, on your clipboard for a message or a notebook. Download text saves the same as a .txt file, and Download image saves a clean sheet as a JPG to print or share.

For the best result

• Use one voice or one instrument. A song with a full orchestra behind the singer can pull the pitch towards an instrument.
• Hold the notes a little. Fast taans and heavy ornaments come out as fewer, longer notes.
• To find the raga as well, try the raga identifier.