International » Indian Subcontinent Traditions » Raga

Modes in Hindu music are referred to as ragas but the term is much more complex than that. The raga incorporates rhythms, scales, the importance of particular pitches within the scales, patterns for raising and lowering the pitch, ornaments, how long a piece of music will last, and even the expressive characteristics required in a particular work. The use of different ragas is seasonally contingent.