Indian riyaz · Beginner · Indian classical
Sarali varisai 1
The first lesson of Carnatic music: the raga Mayamalavagowla (melakarta 15) straight up and down, one swara to a beat. Every later lesson grows from it.
How to do it
- Sing the swara names: sa ri ga ma pa da ni sa.
- Ri and Da are the lower (shuddha) ones, a semitone above Sa and Pa.
- Repeat at double speed once it is steady.
Remember Ri and Da sit low.
| Numbers | 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7 1′ 1′ 7 ♭6 5 4 3 ♭2 1 |
|---|---|
| Sargam | S R̲ G M P D̲ N Ṡ Ṡ N D̲ P M G R̲ S |
| Solfa | do ra mi fa sol le ti do do ti le sol fa mi ra do |
| Notes | G A♭ B C D E♭ F♯ G G F♯ E♭ D C B A♭ G |
| Sung on | sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa sa ni dha pa ma ga re sa |
Where it comes from
More indian riyaz
Settling Sa (Sa lagana)
Every riyaz begins by placing Sa against the tanpura until it is perfectly still and in tune.
Sarali varisai 2
Sa-Ri repeated three times before running up: the first exercise that makes the voice turn back on itself, in Adi tala..
Janta varisai 1
Each swara twice, the second one given a small push.
Alankar in threes (S R G, R G M…)
A three-note cell walked up the scale and back: S R G, R G M, G M P… The alankar moves inside the raga, not up by semitones, which is how Indian riyaz builds evenness..