Speeds in Carnatic music: In carnatic music, speed is relative. It is measured as the number of notes per beat of the tala, rather than the number of notes per second or minute.

The first speed is rendering one note per unit of the tala. The 2nd speed is exactly double of this, i.e. two notes per unit. The 3rd speed is four notes per unit. The 4th is eight notes per unit. The 5th is 16 notes per units and 6th speed is 32 notes per unit.

Speed of the tala is rarely varied; only the speed of the music is. But even this is not accomplished in an arbitrary manner. There is a mathematical precision to it. For instance, the 2nd speed is exactly twice as fast and the third is exactly twice as fast as the second and so forth.

Advanced exercises:

Some selected varishais can be repeated with:

- Akaram, Ee-kaaram, U-kaaram

- With Gamakas, in different speeds

- In different sampurna ragas: Kalyani, Shankarabharanam, Kharaharapriya, Thodi

- In selected symmetrical janya ragas (without tala): Mohana, Hamsadhwani, Sri ranjani,

- In selected asymmetrical janya ragas: Bilahari, Mohana Kalyani

- In selected vivadi ragas: Ganamurthi, Chala Natai

- In bhashanga ragas: Bhairavi

- In different nadais: thrishram, khanda, mishra

(this is particularly useful for instrumental practice)

Notation hints: (this notation follows Rani's notes in Carnatic music - karnATik South Indian classical music lyrics Royal Carpet - All the carnatic you need!)

s = sa ; r = ri ; g = ga ; m = ma ; p = pa; d = dha ; n = ni ;

Capitalized letters are in the higher octave

1. Simple ascent/descent

Laya pattern: 1234 5678

s r g m | p d | n S ||

S n d p | m g | r s ||

2. Focus on R and N

Laya pattern: 12-12-1234 and 1234 5678

s r - s r - | s r | g m ||

s r g m | p d | n S ||

S n - S n - | S n | d p ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

3. Focus on G and D.

Laya pattern: 123-123-12 and 1234 5678

s r g - s | r g - | s r ||

s r g m | p d | n S ||

S n d - s | n d - | s n ||

S n d p | m g | r s ||

4. Focus on M and P

Laya pattern: 1234-1234 and 1234 5678

s r g m - | s r | g m - ||
s r g m | p d | n s ||
S n d p - | S n | d p - ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

5. Focus on P and M (dheergam); and R, N

Laya pattern: 1234 56-12 and 1234 5678

s r g m | p , - | s r ||
s r g m | p d | n S ||
S n d p | m , - | S n ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

6. Focus on G and D

Laya pattern: 1234 56-12 and 1234 5678

s r g m | p d - | s r ||
s r g m | p d | n S ||
S n d p | m g - | S n ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

7. Focus on N and R (dheergam)

Laya pattern: 1234 56-7, and 1234 5678

s r g m | p d | n , ||
s r g m | p d | n S ||
S n d p | m g | r , ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

8. Zig Zag with Focus on "pmgr" and "mpdn"

Laya pattern: 1234 -4321 and 1234 5678

s r g m | p m | g r ||
s r g m | p d | n S ||
S n d p | m p | d n ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

9. Zig Zag with Focus on "pmdp" and "mpgm"

Laya pattern: 1234 -4321 and 1234 5678

s r g m | p m | d p ||
s r g m | p d | n S ||
S n d p | m p | g m ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

10. Focus on P (dheergam) and the region between G and N;

and practicing resting on G (nyaasa swaram)

Laya pattern: 1234 56-12 and 1 , , , 1 , , , and

1234 - 4321 and 1234 5678

s r g m | p , | g m ||
p , , , | p , | , , ||
g m p d | n d | p m ||
g m p - g | m g | r s ||

11. Focus on dheergams at S, N, D, P.

Simple patterns: "Snd", "Ndp", "Dpm"

and the region between G and N (finishing phrases)

Janta at p, p,

S , n d | n , | d p ||
d , p m | p , | p , ||
g m p d | n d | p m ||
g m p - g | m g | r s ||

12. Preview of Janta (sphuritam) concept: "SS", "nn", "dd", "pp".

Simple patterns: "SSnd", "nndp", "ddpm"

Dheergam at "paa"

and the region between G and N (finishing phrases)

S S n d | n n | d p ||
d d p m | p , | p , ||
g m p d | n d | p m ||
g m p - g | m g | r s ||


13. ZigZag Patterns: "srgr G", "gmpmP",

Dheergam Focus: G, P, D

and the region between M and N (with a lot of emphasis on zigzag and D-notes)

s r g r | g , - | g m ||
p m p , - | d p | d , ||
m p d p | d n | d p ||
m p d p | m g | r s ||

14. Dheergam at P and S.

Jantas at D and M

s r g m | p , | p , ||
d d p , | m m | p , ||
d n S , | S n | d p ||
S n d p | m g | r s ||

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Sarali Varishai in four speeds:

First speed - one note per unit


1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
s r g m p d n S

Second speed - two notes per unit

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

sr gm pd nS Sn dp mg rs

Third speed - four notes per unit

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

srgm pdnS Sndp mgrs srgm pdnS Sndp mgrs

Fourth speed - eight notes per unit listen

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

srgmpdnS Sndpmgrs srgmpdnS Sndpmgrs

5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

srgmpdnS Sndpmgrs srgmpdnS Sndpmgrs

courtesy-shivakuma