How can I learn identifying ragas through listening? Is ther

sudha_005 · Post by **sudha_005** » 18 Aug 2008, 11:09

Hi!
How can I learn identifying ragas through listening? Is there any method for it. I know very few ragas. I learnt music upto few varnams. I don't have a habit of listening to music.

I want to start listening to music regularly, can you lists good musician names, whom you like most. I thought, before I play the song, I should check the raga arohana and avaorohana, then start listening. Will this method helps me?

Could you list good songs and singers for listening? Could you please send links for downloading Carnatic music.
Thankyou.........

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 18 Aug 2008, 11:23

I don't have a habit of listening to music.

Changing that habit would be a great start. Drawing from my own personal experience, try listening to the 30 raga Thiruppavai set. These are short stanzas and ragas change with each stanza which will keep your interest alive. By repeated listening you will become comfortable with atleast 15 of those ragas. Pick out the ragas that is attractive to you and listen to bigger compositions and alapanas in that raga. This is just a suggestion.

sudha_005 · Post by **sudha_005** » 18 Aug 2008, 11:32

Dear vasanthakokilam, Where can I get 30 raga Thiruppavai set?

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 18 Aug 2008, 14:42

hrgm hmmm, sudha,

you would get that in musicindiaonline.com and raaga.com if you do the search.

Those are wonderful sites with a huge collection. you could also try sangeethamshare.org

Dont confuse with arohanam and avarohanam already.

There is nothing like good and bad musicians. Dont form any opinion already.

Listen to light ones not the heavy RTP and such things.

When you listen to them try to remember the raaga of the song. This itself can make a good kickstart. That is how I learned in the beginning. Then when you listen a different song it would evoke a " I have heard it before feeling"

As you progress you can make out the technical aspects and you would develop a taste of your own.

Listen to " learn to appreciate carnatic music " in musicindiaonline.com

Some common songs that you could follow or even hum , for a good start. I shall write down very common and readily acceptable raaga and songs. do the search in music india and you woudl find them mostly. alternatively you can also search in raaga and sangeethamshare.org .

1. Vatapi Ganapathi ----hamsadwani

2. raghunayaka ---- hamsadwani

3. Yenna dhavam ----- kaapi

4. Jagadhodharana -----kaapi

5. meevalla ---- kaapi

6. Inta sowkya ----- kaapi

7. Samaja vara gamana --- hindolam

maa ramanan - hindolam

kaliyuga varadhan --- brindavana saaranga

venkata chala nilayam- sindhubhairavi

Chandrashekara ---- sindhubhairavi

manasa yetulo --- malayamarutham

manasunilpu and sabhapathikku - abhogi

anandamrutha varshini and sudhamayi - amruthavarshini

mahaganapathim and jagadhanandhakaraka ----nattai

sobillu - jaganmohini

I think this is an adequate list for a starter. I just typed whatever occured to my mind and these are also popular , and easy identity. all that you need is a start and since you have started out members can guide you and would add their valuable inputs.

thry various combinations of words for search and I have repeated songs in same raaga for you to get familiarize with the raaga easily.

Also listen to pancharathna krithis of thyagaraja.

You could try more and core carnatic raagas later. listen to instrumental and vocal alternatively

Look for raagas like kanada, desh, mohana, sriranjani , hamirkalyani , hamsanandhi etc.

then in between listen to songs like

merusamana - maya malava gowlai

ananda natesa and karthikeya todi

vasudevayani- kalyani

pakala nilabadi and chakkani in karaharapriya

Our members would lead you as u progress

all the best.

sudha_005 · Post by **sudha_005** » 21 Aug 2008, 02:36

Hi ganesh_mourthy!

Thankyou for suggestions. I will do the same.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 21 Aug 2008, 09:48

You have got enough homework to do--enjoy your listening!
Most of us started guessing the rAgAs by exclaiming: ah, this sounds very much like that particular song which is listed as such and such a rAgA, so this must be in kalyANi, thODi or whatever. The more you listen, the more interesting the guessing game gets to be!

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 21 Aug 2008, 15:08

yes the more you listen , the more interesting the guessing game gets. Sudha, note that point. And more than anything you should enjoy listening more than focussing on raaga aspect alone. That is an instinct and allow some time for that.