MRIDANGAM LESSONS

TALAM : ADI   

[These lessons are to be played in three speeds]   

Lesson 1.

THA,

THI,

THOM,

NAM,

(THA)     

Lesson 2.

THA, KITA

THI, KITA

THOM, KITA

NAM, KITA

(THA)    

Lesson 3.

THA,,, KITA THAKA

THI,,, KITA THAKA

THOM,,, KITA THAKA

NAM,,, KITA THAKA

(THA)    

Lesson 4.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA

(THA)    

Lesson 5.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

(THA)   

[THAKATHARIKITATHAKA = TA+THA+KA+THA+KI+TA+THA+KA]

Lesson 6.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

(THA)   

[THALANGU = THA+CHAAPPU+THA]

Lesson 7.

THA, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKAJONU THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKAJONU THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKAJONU THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, KITA KITA THAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THALAANGU KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THAKAJONU THANGITA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

KITATHOM, KITATHAKA THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

(THA)    

{THAKAJONUTHANGITA = NAM+THOM+THOM+KA+[THOM+NAM (played together)]+" ' +THA+KA}

Lesson 8.

THA THA THI THI

THOM THOM NAM NAM

(THA)   

Lesson 9.

THA , THA, KITA THAKA

THI, THI, KITA THAKA

THOM, THOM, KITA THAKA

NAM, NAM , KITA THAKA

(THA)    

Lesson 10.

THA, THA, KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THI, THI, KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

THOM, THOM, KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

NAM, NAM , KITA THAKA

THAKATHARI KITATHAKA

(THA)   

Lesson 11.

THA THA THA THA

THI THI THI THI

THOM THOM THOM THOM

NAM NAM NAM NAM

(THA)   

EQUIVALENCE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF MATHRAS :

THA =1

THAA / THAM / THAKA =2

THAKITA / THANGU =3

THAKADIMI / THAKAJONU =4

THADINGINATHOM =5 [KHANDA]

THADEENGINATHOM =6 [THISRA]

THATH DEENGINATHOM =7 [MISRA]

THADEEKKITTATHTHOM =8 [CHATUSRA]

THATH DEEN GINN NATH THOM =9 [SANKEERNA]

………………………………………………

USEFUL TIPS

HOLD THE MRIDANGAM FIRMLY BETWEEN YOUR CALF MUSCLES.

KEEP YOUR ARMS IN LINE WITH YOUR BODY AND NOT BEHIND.

LET THE THOPPI BE A LITTLE NEARER TO THE BODY THAN THE RIGHT SIDE.

A WELL-TUNED INSTRUMENT PRODUCES THE BEST SOUND.

IF YOU KEEP RAVAI ON THOPPI, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS JUST ENOUGH AND WELL PASTED.

CLOSE ONE SIDE WITH THE HAND WHILE YOU ARE PLAYING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MRIDANGAM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nadai

1)

Tha din din na

Tha tha din din na

Kitathaka din din na

Thom thakukum thakajonu

Tha din din na

Tha tha din din na

Kitathaka din din na

Thom thakukum thakajonu

Tha din din na

Thom thakukum thakajonu

Tha tha din din na

Thom thakukum thakajonu

Thom thakukum thakajonu Tham;

Thom thakukum thakajonu Tham;

Thom thakukum thakajonu                (Tham)

Korvais, Jathis & Thadinginathoms :

[128 mathras]

Thathithakajonudinthathom;

Thithakajonudinthathom;

Thakajonudinthathom;

Jonudinthathom;

Dinthathom;

Thathom ,;

Thathithakajonudinthathom;

Thithakajonudinthathom;

Thakajonudinthathom;

Jonudinthathom;

Dinthathom;

Thathom ; Thathom ,;

Thathithakajonudinthathom;

Thithakajonudinthathom;

Thakajonudinthathom;

Jonudinthathom;

Dinthathom;

Thathom ; Thathom ,; Tha (thom )

***********************

[32 mathras]

Tha, thom ;

Thaka thom ,

Thakita thom,

Thathikitathom    Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  

**********************

[32 mathras,  64 mathras &  96 mathras]

Tha thom ,

Thaka thom ,

Thakita thom,

Thathikitathom,    Thathikitathom,   Thathikitathom 

Tha thom ,  Tha thom ,

Thaka thom , Thaka thom ,

Thakita thom,  Thakita thom ,

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  tham  

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  tham

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom

Tha thom ,  Tha thom ,  Tha thom,

Thaka thom , Thaka thom ,  Thaka thom ,

Thakita thom,  Thakita thom ,  Thakita thom ,

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  thangu   

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  thangu   

Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom  Thathikitathom

**********************

[64 mathras]

Tha thi Thakajonu Thangu

    Thadinginathom

ThiThakajonu Thangu

    Thadinginathom

Thakajonu Thangu

Thadinginathom Thangu

Tha Thadinginathom Thangu

ThaThi Thadinginathom

                  (Tham)