2.1 Sarali varisai 1 to 4: the shape of the scale
Play the first four sarali varisai in Adi tala, in time, from memory.
The first four exercises walk up and down the Mayamalavagowla scale in patterns that get longer as they go. They are the first thing anyone learns and the last thing anyone stops practising, because they are where the physical habit of the music is formed.
Work through these
Learn sarali varisai 1 upward and downward, one beat per swara.
karnATik — Beginner lessons · TutorialAdd sarali varisai 2 and 3, checking each against the drone.
Add sarali varisai 4, and play all four without stopping between them.
Keep the tala with your hand throughout, not only in your head.
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Links last checked 30 Aug 2026.
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