Embellishments Reference

Complete reference for gamakas and ornaments in Carnatic music notation

Embellishments (gamakas) add ornamental details to notes in Carnatic music. All embellishments start with a tilde ~ and continue until whitespace.

Syntax

~         // Kampitam
~/        // Eetra Jaaru (ascending)
~\        // Irakka Jaaru (descending)
~w        // Nokku
~^        // Raavi
~x        // Odukkal

Basic Gamakas

Kampitam (~)

An oscillation between two notes.

\beatDuration(4) S R ~ G M P ~

Example usage: p , S..n S..n S..n shows kampitam oscillating between notes.

Jaaru - Eetra (~/ or ~/note)

Ascending slide from one note to another.

\beatDuration(4) S ~/ R G ~/ M P

You can specify a starting note: ~S/ means slide from S to the current note.

Jaaru - Irakka (~\ or ~\note)

Descending slide from one note to another.

\beatDuration(4) P ~\ D N ~\ S.

You can specify a starting note: ~P\ means slide from P to the current note.

Ornamental Gamakas

Nokku (~w)

A gentle touch or glance at a note.

\beatDuration(4) S R ~w G M P ~w D

Raavi (~^)

An aahaatam (struck) gamaka, providing emphasis.

\beatDuration(4) S ~^ R G M ~^ P

Kandippu (~✓ or ~./ or ~.\)

A subtle touch on a note, like in Shankarabharanam where the note appears briefly.

\beatDuration(4) S. , , , n ~./ , P , , ,

Vaali (~~)

A curved or bent ornament.

\beatDuration(4) S R ~~ G M

Odukkal (~x)

A veena gamaka where the note is stretched to reach the next note effect without plucking. On voice, it sounds like an Eetra Jaaru.

\beatDuration(4) S R ~x G M

Orikkai (~γ or ~Y)

A complex oscillating pattern.

\beatDuration(4) S ~Y R G ~Y M

Example: S~~ RN N~~S.D D~~~NP

Jantai Gamakas

Spuritam (~∴ or ~:-)

Stress on the second note of a jantai (paired notes).

\beatDuration(4) [S R] ~:- [G M]

Prathyagatam (~∵ or ~-:)

Similar to Spuritam but in reverse (descending order).

\beatDuration(4) [M G] ~-: [R S]

Gamaka Summary Table

Syntax Name Description
~KampitamOscillation between notes
~/Eetra JaaruAscending slide
~\Irakka JaaruDescending slide
~wNokkuGentle touch
~^RaaviStruck emphasis
~./ or ~✓KandippuSubtle touch
~~VaaliCurved ornament
~xOdukkalStretched note (veena)
~Y or ~γOrikkaiComplex oscillation
~:- or ~∴SpuritamJantai stress (ascending)
~-: or ~∵PrathyagatamJantai stress (descending)

Usage Notes

  • Embellishments can appear before or after a note depending on the gamaka type
  • The Carnatic plugin determines whether an embellishment is valid in a given position
  • Embellishments work with groups and can be nested within complex phrases
  • Use embellishments sparingly for clarity, or abundantly for detailed notation

See Also