Notes, or noTTuswarams, are small songs in simple raagams. They are so called because they are set to Western tunes but have Indian lyrics (for example, santatam paahimaam is often tuned to "God Save the Queen" or "My country 'tis of thee"). They can be used for practice with or without gamakas because of their simple lyrics and tunes. Most are in the raagam shankaraabharaNam, and some are in madhyama shruti as well.