The two dominant types or genres that the Indian Classical Music is divided into are North Indian Hindustani classical music and South Indian classical music. 

As time passed, we found the need to simply a bit in order to easily understand and recognize the two different genres of music. In today’s time and age, we often refer to North Indian Classical Music as Hindustani Music and the South Indian Classical Music as Carnatic Music. Hence, giving them a more simplified name or term.

North Indian Classical Music

Let’s begin with the first genre, that is North Indian Classical music or the Hindustani Classical Music. Learning Indian Classical music has always been an intriguing concept for most of the people , for various reasons. 

Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, shastriya sangeet. It is played in instruments like the violin, sitar and sarod, as  well as sung as vocals. 

There was a specific way or system that was established in order to make the learning process of this kind of classical music simpler, systematic and easier to understand. It was kept in place to make sure that all the people are learning the Indian Classical Music exactly the way it is supposed to be, in the correct way, with all the rules and regulations i place, to avoid any kind of misunderstanding or error. This kind of system that was deviced to regulate the leaning of Indian Classical Music was called Gharana, which became  a unique tradition of  music education.

South Indian Classical Music

Coming to the second category or genre of the Indian Classical Music, that is the South Indian Classical Music. Learning Indian Classical Music of the South is considered to be a bit tougher in comparison to the North Indian Classical Music, in various ways. As it is considered to be more intricate and stricter in terms of the application of its rules and regulations.

The classical music of South India is known as Carnatic. It is also called by the same name in Sri Lanka.

Carnatic music owes its name to the Sanskrit term Karnâtaka Sangîtam which denotes “traditional” or “codified” music. Composed of a system of Ragam (Raga) and Thalam (Tala), it has a rich history and tradition.

Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with South India. It includes the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka.

It evolved from ancient Hindu traditions and was relatively unaffected by the Arab and Iranian influences that, since the late 12th and early 13th centuries, as a result of the Islamic conquest of the north, have characterized the Hindustani music of northern India. In contrast to northern styles, Karnatak music is more thoroughly oriented to the voice. Even when instruments are used alone, they are played somewhat in imitation of singing, generally within a vocal range, and with embellishments that are characteristic of vocal music. Fewer instruments are used in Karnatak than in northern Indian music, and there are no exclusively instrumental forms.

Out of the two, it is considered as to learning Indian Classical Music or the North Indian Classical Music is easier as compared to its counter part that is the South Indian Classical music or the Carnatic Music. 

While Carnatic music lays a lot of emphasis on composition and lyrics, Hindustani lays a lot of stress on the plain notes (swaras).

While Carnatic music lays a lot of emphasis on composition and lyrics, Hindustani lays a lot of stress on the plain notes (swaras).