Term: Thaat MCQs Quiz | Class 9
Class: IX | Subject: Hindustani Music Melodic Instruments (Code 035) | Unit: Unit 1 | Topic: Definition and parent scale. Test your knowledge of Thaat, the foundational parent scales in Hindustani Classical Music. Submit your answers to view the result and download the PDF answer sheet.
Overview of Thaat
In Hindustani Classical Music, a Thaat (also spelled as That) is a “parent scale” or a mode from which Ragas are derived. It serves as the foundational framework for classifying Ragas. The concept was systematized by Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande in the early 20th century.
Key Characteristics of Thaat
- Seven Notes: A Thaat must contain all seven notes (Swaras) out of the 12 chromatic notes.
- Ascending Order: The notes in a Thaat are always arranged in ascending order (Aroha). It does not have a descending order (Avroha).
- Not Sung: A Thaat is a theoretical structure and is never sung or performed. It lacks “Ranjakata” (aesthetic appeal) which is essential for a Raga.
- Parent (Janak): It is known as the “Janak” (father) scale, while the Ragas derived from it are called “Janya” (born) Ragas.
The 10 Thaats of Bhatkhande System
Pt. Bhatkhande classified all major Ragas under 10 basic Thaats. Here is the list with their characteristic notes:
| Thaat Name | Nature of Swaras (Notes) |
|---|---|
| 1. Bilawal | All Shuddha (Natural) notes |
| 2. Kalyan | Ma Tivra (Sharp), rest Shuddha |
| 3. Khamaj | Ni Komal (Flat), rest Shuddha |
| 4. Bhairav | Re and Dha Komal |
| 5. Purvi | Re and Dha Komal, Ma Tivra |
| 6. Marwa | Re Komal, Ma Tivra |
| 7. Kafi | Ga and Ni Komal |
| 8. Asavari | Ga, Dha, and Ni Komal |
| 9. Bhairavi | Re, Ga, Dha, Ni Komal (All flat except Sa, Pa) |
| 10. Todi | Re, Ga, Dha Komal, Ma Tivra |
Quick Revision Points
- Bilawal Thaat is often used for basic swara practice (Alankars).
- Kalyan Thaat is the only one with a Tivra Ma and no Komal swaras.
- Every Thaat must have Sa (Shadaj) and usually Pa (Pancham), though Pa is omitted in some derived Ragas, it exists in the Thaat structure.
Extra Practice Questions
- Which Thaat uses all Komal swaras (Re, Ga, Dha, Ni)? (Answer: Bhairavi)
- What is the total number of swaras in a Thaat? (Answer: 7)
- Who established the 10 Thaat system? (Answer: Pt. V.N. Bhatkhande)
- Can a Thaat be sung in a concert? (Answer: No)
- Which Thaat has both Tivra Ma and Komal Re/Dha? (Answer: Purvi)
Content created and reviewed by the CBSE Quiz Editorial Team based on the latest NCERT textbooks and CBSE syllabus. Our goal is to help students practice concepts clearly, confidently, and exam-ready through well-structured MCQs and revision content.