Carnatic Basics: Dhattu Varisaigal

The third in the series of exercises is the Dhattu Varisai. There are just two exercises and the notation below shows how to play them with slides. Practice them plain as well. Like the first two exercises, these have to be practised in all three octaves.


Exercise 1:

S R S G | R G | R M || S M G R | S R | G M ||
R G R M | G M | G P || R P M G | R G | M P ||
G M G P | M P | M D || G D P M | G M | P D ||
M P M D | P D | P N || M N D P | M P | D N ||
P D P N | D N | D S' || P S' N D | P D | N S' ||
S' N S D | N D | N P || S ' P D N | S N | D P ||
N D N P | D P | D M || N M P D | N D | P M ||
D P D M | P M | P G || D G M P | D P | M G ||
P M P G | M G | M R || P R G M | P M | G R ||
M G M R | G R | G S || M S R G | M G | R S ||

Exercise 2:

S M G M | R G | S R || S G R G | S R | G M ||
R P M P | G M | R G || R M G M | R G | M P ||
G D P D | M P | G M || G P M P | G M | P D ||
M N D N | P D | M P || M D P D | M P | D N ||
P S' N S' | D N | P D || P N D N | P D | N S' ||
S' P D P | N D | S' N || S' D N D | S' N | D P ||
N M P M | D P | N D || N P D P | N D | P M ||
D G M G | P M | D P || D M P M | D P | M G ||
P R G R | M G | P M || P G M G | P M | G R ||
M S R S | G R | M G || M R G R | M G | R S ||

Though they seem tedious, these exercises are very important. Practicing regularly will help you find and play notes in the ragam easily. All three exercises are not restricted to Mayamalavagowla and can be practiced on other ragams. When learning new ragams I highly recommend practicing at least the Swaravali and Dhattu varisaigal.