Music is a form of art with a wide variety of genres and styles. India is known for its many musical traditions, including Hindustani and Carnatic music. These two musical styles have been around for centuries and have developed differently over time, resulting in significant differences between them.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 differences between Hindustani and Carnatic music.

1. Origin: Hindustani music is believed to have originated in northern India, while Carnatic music is from the south. While both styles developed from the same ancient roots, the influence of local cultures and languages has resulted in two distinct forms of music.

2. Language: Hindustani music is primarily sung in Hindi, Urdu, and other North Indian languages. Carnatic music, on the other hand, is usually sung in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, or Sanskrit.

3. Style: The main difference between the two is that Hindustani music is more improvisatory and relies heavily on the use of the melodic pattern called the raga, while Carnatic music is more structured and relies more on the use of fixed compositions called kritis.

4. Rhythms: Hindustani music has a more free-flowing approach to time, while Carnatic music is based on a more rigid rhythmic structure. Hindustani music is more melodically complex, while Carnatic music is more rhythmically complex. Hindustani music has a wider range of musical scales, while Carnatic music has a smaller range of musical scales.

5. Instruments: Hindustani music typically uses instruments such as the sitar, sarod, tabla, and harmonium. Carnatic music primarily uses instruments such as the mridangam, violin, veena, and ghatam.

Riyaz App has lessons in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. Come explore and discover the differences.