From theory — Eastern theory · Start here (swara, thaat, tāla). This page is the sit-down alankar pad.

Practice — Alankars

Sit down with the drone and run sargam drills. Prep on Get ready; after patterns, train Ornaments, then Taals.

Start here · first hour

  1. Drone on — Get ready · Choose Sa if you haven’t yet.
  2. Alankar 1 — straight scale, slow, sargam then “aa”.
  3. Alankar 2 — doubles (Sa Sa).
  4. Alankar 3 — quads. Stop here for day one; later open paltas and the rest of the pad.
Tanpura: set Sa in the bottom bar and keep the drone on.

1 · Alankars (Sargam Drills / Paltas)

Are alankars “drills”? Yes. An alankar (also called a palta) is the classical equivalent of a drill: a short melodic pattern you repeat, transpose up the scale, and gradually speed up. This guide still splits SOVT from alankars (this section) because they train different things.

How to practice each one:

  1. Tanpura on your Sa.
  2. Sargam — sing the note names (Sa Re Sa, Re Ga Re…), matching each pitch.
  3. Vowels too — same pitches, but keep the first syllable of the cell and sing the rest on that note’s vowel:
    • Sa Re Sa → Sa Aa Aa
    • Re Ga Re → Re Ee Ee
    • Ga Ma Ga → Ga Aa Aa
    • Ma Pa Ma → Ma Aa Aa
    • Pa Dha Pa → Pa Aa Aa
    • Dha Ni Dha → Dha Aa Aa
    • Ni Sȧ Ni → Ni Ee Ee
    Longer cells follow the same rule — e.g. Re Ga Ma Pa → Re Ee Ee Ee. Also run full aakar (all Aa): Aa Aa Aa for the same shape. Sargam trains naming; vowels train pure tone.
  4. Transpose up the scale (start on Sa, then Re, then Ga…) — then come down. On each starting note, still run sargam → first-syllable+vowels → full Aa.
  5. Slow before fast; later set the pattern in a taal.

Patterns are written on seven scale degrees. Pick a thaat below (default Bilawal) and every drill retunes: same shapes, that thaat’s komal / tivra seats. Speed uses BPM and More → Note / Dotted in the bottom bar (whole → sixteenth, optional dotted). ▶ sets Beats to match notes per cell (usually with Quarter); 2 uses Eighth, 3 / 18 use Sixteenth. Click ▶ again to stop.

Set Repeats under each pattern (default 4), then press ▶. The counter shows progress as 1/4, 2/4, …

First play often buffers tabla samples (watch for Tabla ✓ under More → Beats). On iPad/iPhone the mix is also auto-lightened. If it still stutters after Tabla is ready: lower BPM, uncheck Tabla, or ease the drone.

Straights

Scale holds — one pitch, then doubles, then quads.

Straight scale · 1 beat

The foundation of every other pattern. ▶ sets Beats → 1, More → Quarter.

Doubles (Sa Sa) · eighths

Each swara twice: Sa Sa · Re Re · Ga Ga… ▶ sets More → Eighth (two notes fill one beat) and Beats → 2.

Quads (Sa Sa Sa Sa) · sixteenths

Each swara four times: Sa Sa Sa Sa · Re Re Re Re… ▶ sets More → Sixteenth (four pulses per beat) and Beats → 4.

Paltas

Climbing cells of 2–5 notes; each group continues into taar until a cell starts on Sȧ.

Paltas in twos · 2 beats

Each swara paired with the next. The first “moving” alankar most learners meet. ▶ sets Beats → 2.

Paltas in threes · 3 beats

Three-note groups. Builds smoother runs. ▶ sets Beats → 3.

Paltas in fours · 4 beats

Four-note groups. The workhorse agility drill. ▶ sets Beats → 4.

Paltas in fives · 5 beats

Five-note groups. Continues into taar until a cell starts on Sȧ. ▶ sets Beats → 5.

Turns & arches

Neighbour folds and up-and-down arches — phrasing and control.

Neighbour turn (Sa Re Ga Re Sa) · 5 beats

Steps up two and folds back — classic control palta. Avaroha keeps the same shape while the base walks down to Sa. ▶ sets Beats → 5.

Arches · 7 beats (Rupak)

Rise three, come back; base climbs the scale, then walks down to Sa (7 notes per cell). ▶ sets Beats → 7 Rupak.

Skips

Larger interval jumps (thirds, fourths, fifths). Each continues until a cell starts on Sȧ.

Thirds (skips) · 2 beats

Skip a swara each step (interval of a third). Continues until a cell starts on Sȧ (Sȧ Gȧ). ▶ sets Beats → 2.

Fourths (skips) · 2 beats

Skip two swaras each step (interval of a fourth). Continues until a cell starts on Sȧ (Sȧ Mȧ). ▶ sets Beats → 2.

Fifths (skips) · 2 beats

Skip three swaras each step (interval of a fifth). Continues until a cell starts on Sȧ (Sȧ Pȧ). ▶ sets Beats → 2.

Five-note zigzags

Five-note cells that weave before resolving. Continues until a cell starts on Sȧ.

Zigzag (Sa Re Sa Re Ga) · 5 beats

Neighbour bounce then step: Sa Re Sa Re Ga · Re Ga Re Ga Ma… Ends on Sȧ Rė Sȧ Rė Gȧ. ▶ sets Beats → 5.

Skip-fill (Sa Ga Sa Re Ga) · 5 beats

Leap to the third, return, then fill: Sa Ga Sa Re Ga · Re Ma Re Ga Ma… Ends on Sȧ Gȧ Sȧ Rė Gȧ. ▶ sets Beats → 5.

Six-note figures

Six-note cells. Continues until a cell starts on Sȧ.

Leap-fill (Sa Ma Sa Re Ga Ma) · 6 beats

Leap a fourth, return, then fill up to it: Sa Ma Sa Re Ga Ma · Re Pa Re Ga Ma Pa… Ends on Sȧ Mȧ Sȧ Rė Gȧ Mȧ. ▶ sets Beats → 6 (or Dadra).

Peak arch (Sa Re Ga Ga Re Sa) · 6 beats

Rise three, hold the peak, fold back: Sa Re Ga Ga Re Sa · Re Ga Ma Ma Ga Re… Ends on Sȧ Rė Gȧ Gȧ Rė Sȧ. ▶ sets Beats → 6 (or Dadra).

Pyramid

Growing arches from Sa up to Sȧ, then from Sȧ down to Sa.

Pyramid (Sa → Sȧ → Sa) · quarters

Grow: Sa · Sa Re Sa · Sa Re Ga Re Sa · … · Sa…Sȧ…Sa, then from taar Sa: Sȧ · Sȧ Ni Sȧ · Sȧ Ni Dha Ni Sȧ · … · Sȧ…Sa…Sȧ. ▶ keeps a regular pulse: Beats → 4, More → Quarter (cells span multiple cycles as they grow).

Sapaat tan

Fast even scale run — the seed of classical taans.

Sapaat tan · sixteenths

Straight scale up then down in one breath — building block of fast passages. ▶ sets More → Sixteenth (continuous run; not a fixed cell size). Start slow; keep it even; then accelerate.

Daily alankar block (≈12 min): 1 (1 beat) → 2 eighths (1) → 3 sixteenths (1) → 4 (2) → 5 (2) → 6/7 (3) → one of 8–18 (2). Transpose each up and down the scale.

Make your own alankar

Invent a pattern, type it (or tap the pad), and play it at the same BPM / Playback note value in the bottom bar. Use a space between notes, | between cells, and a new line (or /) for avaroha. Save keeps it in this browser so you can load or delete it later. For a melody with rests and mixed note lengths, open Make your own tunes.

Pivot palta

Interval drill: every cell is pivot + moving note (e.g. Sa Re) or reverse moving note + pivot (e.g. Re Sa). The moving note walks pivot → high → low → pivot within the range you set. Pick a thaat so Low / Pivot / High and the written palta use that scale’s komal / tivra seats.

Play pivot palta

Tone in the bottom bar sets the sound for all drills (Harmonium = reed samples; Synth = lighter). Defaults: Harmonium on Mac/PC, Synth on iPhone/iPad. This keyboard only lights while custom / pivot playback runs — not during 1–18. Keys are fixed Western (C is always C) with Sa Re Ga… for your Sa. Tap to hear and insert. Use | between cells; new line for avaroha.

Play custom bottom-bar BPM & More → Note · saved in this browser

Want to make your own tunes

After the alankars: a composer with rests, mixed note lengths, repeats, and a Bhatkhande preview.

Open Make your own tunes →

2 · 4-Week Starter Practice Plan

≈20–30 minutes a day. Repeat a week if needed. Tone and pitch before speed and range. Tanpura on the whole time.

Week 1 — Find your Sa, breath & the swaras

  • Daily: diaphragmatic breathing + SOVT + humming + hum 1·3·5 + vowels
  • Choose your Sa; get comfortable with the tanpura (Get ready)
  • Sing Bilawal slowly on sargam and on “aa”
  • Goal: pass the Basics self-check; scale in tune with the drone

Week 2 — Morning routine + first alankars

  • Daily: SOVT → morning warm-ups → short glides + Sa swells
  • Add 1–3 — scale (quarters), doubles (eighths), quads (sixteenths); sargam + vowels
  • Light kharaj (low notes), one below Sa at a time
  • Goal: 2/3 steady on Sa…Ni, in tune

Week 3 — More alankars + first taal

  • Full routine, then 4 and 5; transpose each
  • Learn Teentaal: clap it, then one four-note group per beat
  • Smooth glides + volume swells on Sa / Ga / Pa
  • Goal: 6 cleanly in one Teentaal cycle

Week 4 — Consolidate, range, speed

  • Routine + 1–7, then one of 8–18
  • Extend gently into mandra and taar
  • Sing against Keherwa or Dadra too
  • Goal: even sapaat tan; steady alankar while speeding up

Beyond week 4: see the companion page Beyond week 4 — ornaments, thaat, raag & bandish (also beyond.md).

Resources

Curated free and paid sources. For singing you want to hear tone and follow along — with a drone running the whole time.

Practice tools

  • This page — Sa selector, tanpura, swara keys, ▶ alankars, taal metronome, and a mic pitch meter (offline).
  • Riyaz app — tanpura, guided lessons, pitch feedback.
  • App stores: search tanpura, shruti box, iTablaPro, tabla player.

YouTube / follow-along riyaz

Useful searches: Sa ka riyaz, alankar 1 to 10, kharaj ka riyaz, how to find your Sa, eastern classical vocal lesson for beginners, lip trills / straw phonation warm up.

Voice mechanism

Schools & reference

Books

  • V. N. Bhatkhande — Kramik Pustak Malika (notation & method)
  • V. N. Bhatkhande — Sangeet Paddhati (theory of thaats/raags)
Self-study goes far, but a trained ear (guru / teacher) catching pitch and technique habits early saves years.
Target Sa You — —

Enable mic for live pitch · headphones help when the harmonium is loud