The Bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a basic and fundamental source of Gurmat Sangeet ¹ , Sikh Gurus, right from Guru Nanak Dev ji  have developed this tradition as an essential part of the Sikh way of life. In the Bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib , both classical and folk styles have been applied for the spiritual communication by the Sikh Gurus. We can clearly study many examples within the Raagas, singing styles and conventional kirtan presentations.
          In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to indicate these different singing styles, particular mention has been given in the title of each Bani indicating the singing style such as Ashtpadi ²  , Chaupade ³, Dupade ⁴, Tipade, Parhtaal ⁵,  etc. These poetic forms of Bani also have their own traditional singing style. In the Bani arrangement of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, it has been scientifically laid out.

Pade
Pade,  is another classical singing style of Gurmat Sangeet. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the different compositions have been assigned the indication Chaupade (Guru Granth Sahib Page 326), Dupade (Guru Granth Sahib Page 185, 498) and Tipade (Guru Granth Sahib Page 497) in the title, meaning Shabad composition consisting of four couplets, two couplets and three couplets, respectively. These Shabads have also been assigned the composition of Rahao ⁶,  and different digits known as Ank ⁷,  1,2,3,4. We can Summarise from this compositional analysis, using the musicology of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as our base that these compositions should be sung in Dhrupad manner. In Classical music, the four parts of a Dharupad compositions are Sthai ⁸, Antraa ⁹, Sanchari ¹⁰ , Aabhog ¹¹.  In these compositions, Rahao and different couplets marked by the different digits set a scientific format for this style of singing.

Ashtpadi
Amongst these singing styles, Ashtpadi is a classical style of music. In the Medieval period, Saints and Bhagatas recited their Bani ¹² in this style. Ashtpadi as a Prabandh style of singing. Bhagat Jaidev of Bengal is a prominent name who composed his famous creation Geet Govind in this style and along with the other Sikh Gurus, saints and Bhagatas, the two ashtpadis of Jaidev have also been included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.  These Ashtpadi compositions are in Raag Gujri and Maru.
In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Amar Dass, Guru Ram Dass, Guru Arjun Dev, Bhagat Ravidas, Bhagat Kabir and Sheikh Farid have composed their Bani in this style.
 
Parhtal
The third prominent classical singing style of Gurmat Sangeet is Parhtal. In Indian Music literature, there is no mention of this style. So, this is an original and unique style for all purposes of Gurmat Sangeet, the sole creation of Guru Ram Dass ji and Guru Arjun Dev ji who recited 55 Parhtal (Guru Granth Sahib Page 408, 980, 1200 etc.) compositions in various Raagas. This is a unique style of classical music which is being developed in the tradition of instrumental music.

          Punjab is a major cultural canvas for the origin and development of Sikh religion. The Raagas, Styles of singing and instruments developed from Punjabi Folk music have been preferred by the Sikh Gurus in this tradition. They established their authenticity through practical application of Shabad Keertan¹³ and theoretical inclusion in the Bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The understanding of these styles of Folk music is fundamentally important for students and research scholars of Gurmat Sangeet.

Vaar
Vaar¹⁴ is a ballad, a poetic form in Punjabi culture in which the ballad singer known as Dhadi¹⁵, sings the heroic deeds of the warriors of Northern India. Among the Bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, 22 spiritual ballad poetic forms, known as Vaaran have been mentioned. Out of these 22 Vaars, 9 have musical tunes as Dhuni¹⁶ indication in their titles. These ballads used in Sri Guru Granth Sahib directly related to their folk counterparts are ultimately and authentically linked to the traditional source of these Raagas. These Vaar Bani forms have been composed in Paurhi style of poetry. As discussed earlier that in the presentation of every Shabad Keertan Chauki, Paurhi¹⁷ a folk style of singing is fundamentaly important.

Chant
Another prevalent folk style which has been applied for the communication of Bani is Chant. Chant is traditionally sung during the marriage ceremony in Punjabi culture. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Ram Dass ji and Guru Arjun Dev ji have recited their Bani in this style.

Ghorian
Another folk singing style is Ghorian¹⁸ which is also typically sung during the time of a Punjabi marriage ceremony. The sisters and other female relatives of the groom sing these folk songs before the departure for marriage. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib, this folk form has been interpreted and applied in a spiritual manner. The fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das ji has recited two bani compositions in Raag Wadhans.

Alauhnian
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a basic and primary source of Gurmat Sangeet and in this Granth, another prominent style of folk applied in Bani is Alauhnian¹⁹. In this Granth, nine Alauhni compositions have been recited by Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Amar Dass ji in Raag Wadhans (Guru Granth Sahib Page 578) and Wadhans Dakhni. This is a style which is traditionally sung at the time of death. Appreciation and commemoration of the deceased person’s life and qualities are sung in this tradition in the Alauhni style. Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Amar Dass ji have recited Alauhnian in a spiritual context. In Sikhism, this folk style of Shabad Keertan has a tradition of singing in the Keertan Chauki of Akal Chalana ²⁰.

          Above mentioned Folk styles of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are also integral part of Shabad Keertan. A part from these styles of music are some other Folk forms in the Divine Bani and these styles have their own poetic & melodic structure.

1. Which is the basic Source of Gurmats Sangeet ?
            I. Ramayan                 II. Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
            III. Mahabharat           IV. Geeta.

2. Which  Singing styles are used in Gurmat Sangeet ?

            I. Pop and Western       II. Folk and Classical
            III. Film and Light         IV. None of the above

3. What is Kirtan?
            I. Singing shabads in Sikh religion
            II. Singing songs
            III. A presentation of Tabla vadan
            IV. None of the above.

4. What is Ashtpadi?
            I. A Bani form      II. Name of Person     III. Name of an instrument     IV None of these.

5. Dupade refers to.
            I. A couplet of four verses
            II. A couplet of two verses
            II. A couplet of eight verses
            IV A couplet of three verses

6. Which of the following means Tipade ?
            I. A couplet of three verses       II. name of a gayan style
            III. name of an instrument        IV. None of these.

7. What is chaupade?
            I. name of a Gayan style           II. Chaturang
            III. A couplet of four verses      IV. None of these

8. Parhtal is related to.
            I. A collection of Tals         II A classical singing form of Gurbani
            III. name of a Tala             IV. None of these.

9. Rahao is Symbolises ?
            I. An indicator of verses       II. An indicator in shabad having theme and acts as Sathai
            III. A rhythmic tempo.         IV. None of these.

10. Who created Geet Govind?
            I. Kalidas     II. Jaidev     III. Namdev    IV. Kabir