Singing, and the voice as an instrument, is very important. Indian music is based on relative positioning and thus, notes are not a fixed pitch. For example, the note called Sa would be used as the basis for the song, in the same way that Western music has a song in the key of C Major with C as the basis. Carnatic music uses a 22 note scale, whereas the Western system uses a 12 note scale. Western music previously used the rational division system, which is known as the natural scale.
Indian music uses rational division.
Carnatic music is based on a system of 72 melakarta ragas, called janaka ragas, and thai, or mother ragas, which function as creator ragas. The seven basic swaras occupy various swara sthanas and produce a total of sixteen swaras that form the basis of the raga scheme. Instrumental melody rather than harmony is stressed and performances are usually in a chamber music setting. Each song is organized into three categories, the alpana, the krithi, and the niraval. Important instruments are the veena, a large, resonant, fretted plucked string instrument, and the bamboo flute, which is the most important solo instrument.