Introduction to Carnatic Musics

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     The one of the worlds oldest and richest musical tradition is Carnatic Music. There are basically 72 basic scales on the octave and best variety of melodic sounds. 

Brief History:

     The origin of carnatic music dates on 13th century A.D with a book named with sangeetha Rathnakara which was written by Saranga Deva. It was spread all over the world with appropriate contribution by several composers like Purandaradaasar at the period 15th century A.D and some other composers like Sri Thyagarajar, Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar and Sri Shyama Shasthry at the period of 18th Century A.D.  Carnatic music emphasizes the voice and singing, accompanied by the instruments like tambura, violin, mridangam and veena.

Notes:

     There are 7 notes in carnatic music. they are s, r, g, m, p, d and n, these are also called as sapthaswaras. 

Saptha- Seven

Swaras- Notes

     Every song which has a shruthi or pitch. Shruthi is somprised of 3 notes s,p,s for panchamam based shruthi or s,m,s for madhyamam based shruthi. Among these 7 notes, s and p dont have any variations but the other notes have either 2 or 3 variations. Carnatic Notes are mentioned below with images.

s  - Shadjamam

r1 - Sudhdha Rishabam

r2 - Chatusruthi Rishabam

r3 - Shatsruthi Rishabam

g1 - Sudhdha Gaandhaaram

g2 - Saadhaarana Gaandhaaram

g3 - Anthara Gaandhaaram

m1 - Sundhdha Madhyamam

m2 - Prathi Madhyamam

p  - Panchamam

d1 - Sudhdha Dhaivatham

d2 - Chatusruthi Dhaivatham

d3 - Shatsruthi Dhaivatham

n1 - Sudhdha Nishaadham

n2 - Kaisiki Nishaadham

n3 - Kaakali Nishaadham

Swaras in Carnatic music:

Position	Swara	Short name	Notation	Mnemonic
1	Shadja	Sa	S	sa
2	Shuddha Rishabha	Ri	R1	ra
3	Chathusruthi Rishabha	Ri	R2	ri
3	Shuddha Gandhara	Ga	G1	ga
4	Shatsruthi Rishabha	Ri	R3	ru
4	Sadharana Gandhara	Ga	G2	gi
5	Anthara Gandhara	Ga	G3	gu
6	Shuddha Madhyama	Ma	M1	ma
7	Prati Madhyama	Ma	M2	mi
8	Panchama	Pa	P	pa
9	Shuddha Dhaivatha	Dha	D1	dha
10	Chathusruthi Dhaivatha	Dha	D2	dhi
10	Shuddha Nishadha	Ni	N1	na
11	Shatsruthi Dhaivatha	Dha	D3	dhu
11	Kaisiki Nishadha	Ni	N2	ni
12	Kakali Nishadha	Ni	N3	nu