Indian Music (Hindustani) — Textbook & Study Material

Download the official textbook for Indian Music (Hindustani) and see the full chapter list so you know exactly what to cover.

Official textbook download

Indian Music (Hindustani) — official textbook — Free download from the official source.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Indian Music (Hindustani) Course Options: Vocal, Instrumental, and Tabla
Chapter 2: Theory Paper and Practical Paper Assessment
Chapter 3: Introduction to Musical Terms
Chapter 4: Forms of Composition: Khayal
Chapter 5: Introduction to Ragas: Yaman, Bhupali, Khamaj, Bhairav, and Desh
Chapter 6: Taal and Taal-lipi: Teentaal, Dadra, Kaharwa, and Jhaptaal
Chapter 7: Swarlipi of Chota Khayal
Chapter 8: Eminent Musicians of Hindustani Music
Chapter 9: Topics of General Interest Related to Music
Chapter 10: Chota Khayal Demonstration with Five Taans
Chapter 11: Taal Recitation with Padhant in Thah, Dugun, and Chaugun
Chapter 12: Five Alankars and Devotional or Folk Song
Chapter 13: Introduction to Musical Terms
Chapter 14: Types and Techniques of String Instruments
Chapter 15: Introduction to Ragas: Yaman, Bhupali, Khamaj, Bhairav, and Desh
Chapter 16: Taal and Taal-lipi: Teentaal, Dadra, Kaharwa, and Jhaptaal
Chapter 17: Swarlipi of Razakhani or Drut Gat
Chapter 18: Eminent Musicians of Hindustani Music
Chapter 19: Topics of General Interest Related to Music
Chapter 20: Razakhani or Drut Gat Demonstration with Five Todas
Chapter 21: Taal Recitation with Padhant in Thah, Dugun, and Chaugun
Chapter 22: Five Alankars and Dhun Performance
Chapter 23: Eminent Musicians of Hindustani Music
Chapter 24: Terms Related to Tabla
Chapter 25: Taal and Taal-lipi: Teentaal, Ektaal, Chaartaal, Rupak, and Tivra
Chapter 26: Five Pranas of Taal
Chapter 27: Syllables of Tabla
Chapter 28: Topics of General Interest Related to Music
Chapter 29: Tabla Talas in Thah, Dugun, and Chaugun Layakari
Chapter 30: Tabla Compositions with Wazan of Taal
Chapter 31: Identification and Production of Tabla Syllables
Chapter 32: Tabla Accompaniment and Knowledge of Lehra

Frequently asked questions

Is the Indian Music (Hindustani) textbook available for free?

Yes — the book linked above is a free download. We link to the source rather than re-hosting it, so you always get the current edition. Check the edition against the syllabus for your exam year.

Is the Indian Music (Hindustani) textbook enough to score well, or do I need extra notes?

The official textbook is the core — most exam questions are set directly from it, so read it thoroughly first. Add concise notes and solved past papers for revision and exam practice rather than switching to unofficial books.

How should I study the Indian Music (Hindustani) textbook chapter by chapter?

Cover the high-weightage chapters first (use the exam pattern as a guide), make a one-page summary per chapter, and immediately solve a few past-paper questions on it. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

How can I prepare for Indian Music (Hindustani) faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Indian Music (Hindustani) — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Indian Music (Hindustani) study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.