As we all know Carnatic Music is a very complicated system of music. To master this, one should dedicate himself to the rigorous training pattern that carnatic music demands. This page is a humble effort to help students and aspirants of carnatic music to learn the basics of carnatic music that too totally free. You can also contact me back for any queries or doubts relating carnatic music lessons or carnatic music learning. The basics of carnatic music are based on a swara system. To start with, the student should train himself with the voice training sessions called varishas. Varishas are swara patters that train a student to handle a particular raga. It also initiates the students to the concept of tala or rhythm. There are mainly Three types of basic varishas. They are

• Sarali varisha
• Janta Varisha
• Madhyastayi & Tarasthai Varishas

To start with, let us learn the first lesson in Sarali varisha The notes are
Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, dha, Ni & Sa

Raga is Mayamalavagowla and Tala is Aadi


1) (Click to hear the audio : Varisha 1 )

// Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, / Pa, dha, Ni Sa // (Click to hear the audio)

// Sa, Ni , dha, Pa / Ma, Ga, Ri, Sa, //

 

2) Once you master this one then we can move on to the next lesson in Sarali Varisha

(Click to hear the audio : Varisha 2 )


// Sa, Ri, Sa, Ri, / Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma //
// Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, / Pa, dha, Ni Sa //


// Sa, Ni, Sa, Ni , / Sa, Ni , dha, Pa //

// Sa, Ni , dha, Pa / Ma, Ga, Ri, Sa, //

3) Master the above varisha and then we can move on to the third one as below

(Click to hear the audio : Varisha 3)

// Sa, Ri, Ga, Sa, / Ri, Ga, Sa, Ri //
// Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, / Pa, dha, Ni Sa //


// Sa, Ni, Dha, Sa , / Ni, Dha , Sa, Ni //

// Sa, Ni , dha, Pa / Ma, Ga, Ri, Sa, //

4) After mastering the above one lets now learn the fourth one as illustrated below

(Click to hear the audio : Varisha 4)


// Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, / Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma //
// Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, / Pa, dha, Ni Sa //


// Sa, Ni, Dha , Pa , / Sa, Ni, Dha , Pa //

// Sa, Ni , dha, Pa / Ma, Ga, Ri, Sa, //

There are a number of varishas like this which helps a carnatic music student to train his voice and develop a positive background for higher studies in music. Same is the case with instrumental music also. The only difference is that, in instrumental music instead of articulating the sound the training is being given in familiarizing with the instrument and learning the technical aspects of using it.
Once a carnatic music student completes learning varishas, the next step is Geethams or small and simple songs in various ragas. Most often the basic geethams are in simple ragas like malahari, mohanam etc..

Lets now learn a geetham the geetham is set in Raga Mohanam

Saraswathy Geetham

(Click to hear the audio : Mohanam - Geetham)

Raga: Mohanam , Taala: Roopakam

 

//Ga Ga Pa - Pa - // Dha Pa Sa - Sa -//

 

//Ri Sa dha Dha Pa - // Dha Pa Ga Ga Ri -//

 

//Ga Pa Dha Sa Dha - //Dha Pa Ga Ga Ri -//

 

//Ga Ga Dha Pa Ga - // Pa Ga Ga Ri Sa -//

 

//Ga Ga Ga Ga Ri Ga // Pa Ga Pa - Pa -//

 

//Ga Ga dha pa dha - // pa dha Sa - Sa -//

 

//Dha Ga Ri Ri Sa Sa // Dha Sa Dha Dha Dha Pa//

 

//Ga Pa dha Sa Dha Pa // Dha Pa Ga Ga Ri Sa//

 

//Sa Ri Ga - Ga - // Ga Ri Pa Ga Ri -//

 

//Sa Ri Sa Ga Ri Sa // Ri Dha Sa - Sa-//

 

Varnam - Ninnukori..
Raga: Mohanam , Taala: Adi
(Click to hear the audio : Mohanam - Varnam)

 

 

Krithi - Kamalambana..
Raga: Kanada, Taala: Adi
(Click to hear the audio : nattai - varnam)

 

 

 

Krithi - Pranamamyaham..
Raga: Gowla, Taala: Adi
(Click to hear the audio)

 

 

 

Krithi - Kamalambana..
Raga: Kanada, Taala: Adi
(Click to hear the audio)

 

 

 

Krithi - Nagumo o muganale..
Raga: Abheri, Taala: Adi
(Click to hear the audio)

 

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