In this lesson, we will do our very first alankar riyaz with all 7 natural notes (shuddha swar). This is also called sargam alankar or Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa alankar. This alankar is: Aaroh (ascending): Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa Avroh (descending): Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa We will do our sur-abhyas or sur-riyaz (notes practice) with laya/beats. Before beginning, we should understand briefly about laya/taal/beats. There are three types of beats: vilambit laya (slow tempo), madhya laya (medium tempo), dhrut laya (fast tempo). A laya can simply be defined as the distance between two beats. Watch the video for the demonstration of different layas.

This lesson is in C# scale, which is suitable for males. If you are a female watch this lesson, Alankar 1 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa | Scale A# Female. There are several tabla or metronome apps to play these beats at different speeds or beats-per-minute (bpm). After fixing a laya (bpm), you can do your sur riyaz.

Teel taal: Teen taal has 16 matra (16 beats), divided into 4 khand (segments) of 4 matra (beats) each. Teen taal bol: || Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dhan Tin Tin Ta | Ta Dhin Dhin Dha || Taali: 3 (at 1, 5, 13 beats) Khaali: 1 (at 9th beat) Watch the video for the demonstration of teen taal. We will now start our alankar 1 riyaz. This alankar is simply, Aaroh (ascending): Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa Avroh (descending): Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

In this lesson, here is how we will practice:

1. sing every swar/note for 16 matra (beats).
2. sing every swar/note for 8 matra (beats).
3. sing every swar/note for 4 matra (beats).
4. sing every swar/note for 2 matra (beats).
5. sing every swar/note for 1 matra (beat).

As we discussed, this lesson covers 7 natural notes (shuddha swars). To get an understanding of all 12 notes, watch these lessons as well:

• Basic alankar based on Raag Kafi to understand komal Ga and komal Ni
• Basic alankar based on Raag Bhairav to understand komal Re and komal Dha
• Basic alankar based on Raag Yaman to understand teevra Ma

If you are looking to learn singing from experienced Gurus and performing artists, you can join our online hindustani vocal classes.