Hi All,
The subject is Sarod a string Instrument of India
As you know Indian culture has achieved the greatest heights in the world. One of the greatest achievements in India is in the field of music. The vaiety of Musical Instruments, the number of Ragas, the varaiety of drums and the Taalas, Layas in India surpasses any music in the world. This could happen because India also adopted many cultures and had open mind for fostering other cultures. Thus in India an instrument called Rabab was brought in from Afghanistan by ancestors of present day Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The Rabab was modified and improved by those Ustads and thus in India the modern Sarod came into existence.
I had a rare privilege to be in tutelage of my revered Guru Acharya Bimalendu Mukherjee. He was a Gold Medalist in M.Sc. Geology from Presidency College Calcutta apart from being a great Sitarist and Musicologist. Since my Guruji was also a scientist, he encouraged us to explore further on various aspects of Music and Instruments.
Problem-1
One of the problems we face in Sarod is that it is played with finger nails. If the finger nails worn off then the sound is dampened.
Solutions to Problem1:
An electronic pickup or contact microphone. helps to sustain the sound so that we do not apply much pressure on the finger and the nail does not worn off soon.
String used should not be too thin and too tight, tuned to very high pitch else it will cut the nails.
Tune the Sarod to ;ow pitch say B. This will retain the sound better and the nails will not worn so often.
Low pitch tuning will also reduce breakage of string.
Problem-2
While I teach my students, they find it difficult to place the finger exactly to get the correct note sat Ga or Komal Ga etc.. as there are no frets or markings on the finger board.
Solutions to 2:
So it occured to me that why not put the markings on the board. You can use Korg (tuner) to tune the Sarod. Then mark on the finger board using a marking pen every position of swara or note. But be sure you wipe off all the oil on the finger board before marking. This method has helped every student who did not have any ear for swaras to develop the ear for swar within a month.
Do let us know if you want to know more or if have suggestions.
You could also call me on my phone no.'s 9840320809 or 9886054067 or meet me at Bangalore or Chennai after calling me.
The subject is Sarod a string Instrument of India
As you know Indian culture has achieved the greatest heights in the world. One of the greatest achievements in India is in the field of music. The vaiety of Musical Instruments, the number of Ragas, the varaiety of drums and the Taalas, Layas in India surpasses any music in the world. This could happen because India also adopted many cultures and had open mind for fostering other cultures. Thus in India an instrument called Rabab was brought in from Afghanistan by ancestors of present day Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The Rabab was modified and improved by those Ustads and thus in India the modern Sarod came into existence.
I had a rare privilege to be in tutelage of my revered Guru Acharya Bimalendu Mukherjee. He was a Gold Medalist in M.Sc. Geology from Presidency College Calcutta apart from being a great Sitarist and Musicologist. Since my Guruji was also a scientist, he encouraged us to explore further on various aspects of Music and Instruments.
Problem-1
One of the problems we face in Sarod is that it is played with finger nails. If the finger nails worn off then the sound is dampened.
Solutions to Problem1:
An electronic pickup or contact microphone. helps to sustain the sound so that we do not apply much pressure on the finger and the nail does not worn off soon.
String used should not be too thin and too tight, tuned to very high pitch else it will cut the nails.
Tune the Sarod to ;ow pitch say B. This will retain the sound better and the nails will not worn so often.
Low pitch tuning will also reduce breakage of string.
Problem-2
While I teach my students, they find it difficult to place the finger exactly to get the correct note sat Ga or Komal Ga etc.. as there are no frets or markings on the finger board.
Solutions to 2:
So it occured to me that why not put the markings on the board. You can use Korg (tuner) to tune the Sarod. Then mark on the finger board using a marking pen every position of swara or note. But be sure you wipe off all the oil on the finger board before marking. This method has helped every student who did not have any ear for swaras to develop the ear for swar within a month.
Do let us know if you want to know more or if have suggestions.
You could also call me on my phone no.'s 9840320809 or 9886054067 or meet me at Bangalore or Chennai after calling me.
