Sarali Varisai: A Simple Guide for Beginners

Sarali Varisai (also referred as Swaravali Varisaigal) is the basic Carnatic music exercise or fundamental musical sequences that serves as building blocks for beginner students for both carnatic style singing and also for carnatic instruments. There are totally 14 exercises and the notes are also sometimes referred as sarali varisai lyrics is to be practised in 3 speeds. Once the student has mastered this they can move to the next set of exercises called Janta Varisai.

Swara practise in Sarali Varisai helps students to get a good grasp of melody and rhythm. This exercise is practised in Mayamalava Gowlava Raagam & Adi Talam (8 beats).

Sarali Varisai Importance

Learning Saralai Varisai is easy for beginners as the swaras or the notes are placed in balanced distances from one another and the swara practise in carnatic music is essential to get the basics strong. Here the purvanga or first half is symmetrical to the uttaranga or second half. This helps a student to render the raga easily. This exercise is set in one octave beginning from Madhya shadja to Tara shadja.

The key feature of Sarali varisai is the sequence in which they have been composed. So learning this helps student to progress step by step, so that the student understands about the interval between the swaras. In a nutshell sarali varisai exercises help a student to get a firm grip of rhythm and timing sense, which are essential skills in learning carnatic music.

Sarali Varisai is referred as Sarali Swaralu in Telugu.

How to Practise Sarali Varisai

Based on my teaching experience of Carnatic music for more than 7+ years, I have given below two simple steps to practice this.

Step 1

The first step is to find a comfortable note to start with. Students are recommended strongly to use Shruti Box or take a help of carnatic music teacher to start with. This is very important, else you will find difficult as the intensity of the exercises gets built up.

Once you fix the note on Shruti box (Sa note) students should listen to the note and try to hum or reproduce the note that comes from Shruti box . Initially it will be a challenge, but with practise they will be able to match the note. Students should pay attention to match the note, try to sustain in tune as long as possible. Sustaining the note is called as ‘Kaarvai’. Singing in pitch, holding breath and releasing the breath when the note is over is important before moving to exercises.

Step 2

The second step is to practise the exercises in different speeds. I have given below the details of same

Sarali Varisai has 14 exercises and it has to be practised in three speeds as given below.

• First speed – One note per beat.
• Second speed – Two notes per beat.
• Third speed – Four notes per beat.

You can move to fourth speed i.e. eight notes per beat, but for a beginner we strongly recommend that you first stay in 3 speed.

This exercise has to be practised in the raga Mayamalavagowla, which is suited for a beginner to learn both in vocal and instrumental. This raga or scale is practised in Arohana (ascending) and in Avarohana (descending) patterns as shown below.

Arohana : s r1 g3 m1 p d1 n3 s
Avarohana : S n3 d1 p m1 g3 r1 s

Sarali Varisai Notes and Lyrics in English, Tamil, Telugu , Kannanda & Malayalam

After becoming familiar with these exercise in the raga Mayamalavagowla, the student can practice the same in different ragas like Shankarabharanam or Kharaharapriya. But don’t jump to other ragas without mastering Sarali varisai in Mayamalavagowla ragam.

Sarali Varisai for Improving Vocal Range and Flexibility

Since the notes are placed equally, practising this notation and exercises in all four speeds regularly helps students to understand their vocal range and build flexibility early on in their journey of learning carnatic music. Note that

Sarali Varisai Vs Janta Varisai

After mastering Sarali Varisai in 3 speeds, the student can move on to the next set of exercises – Janta Varisai. Janta means two and therefore in Janta Varisai the notes come in a pair.

You can also learn through live one-to-one tutoring with our friendly tutors. For more details visit our Carnatic singing classes.

Did you Know?

Sarali Varisai was first composed by Purandara Dasa, father of Carnatic music almost 500 years ago and the same exercise also referred to as varisai is followed even today.

Click on the Following Blogs to Explore more Carnatic Lessons:

Dhattu Varisaigal

Upper Stayi Varisaigal

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