What is Sruti?
The word Sruti is mainly used in the context of tuning, whether it is an instrument or voice. For voice, it is the frequency at which the person is most comfortable talking or singing in. For a singer, Sruti corresponds to their Shadja or ‘Sa’.
What is Voice register?
Each of our voices are different. They differ in many characteristics, one of which is the range of frequencies/pitches they produce. The differences between physical characteristics of vocal chords in men and women result in women in general producing high-pitched sounds than men. The total range of such frequencies one can produce – ranging from the deepest or lowest frequency to the shrillest or highest one – is called as voice register.
What is the link between your voice register and your Sruti?
Choosing a right sruti goes a long way in helping you sing in the broadest possible voice register in the most comfortable way. Let me break this sentence down for you, one phrase at a time.
‘.. sing in the broadest possible voice register ..’: Voice register of a singer must span at least 2 octaves. You can start identifying your vocal range by singing the lowest and highest svaras/notes you can. It is completely ok to have a vocal range of 1 octave when you begin. You will eventually expand this range by practicing different svara patterns.
‘Choosing a right sruti ..’: A svara that is half octave above the deepest/lowest note that you can sing corresponds to your sruti. This becomes Shadja or ‘Sa’ of the middle octave for your voice register. This helps you to comfortably sing the melodic patterns that span your voice register. You should also be able to sing at least one octave above your sruti.
How to increase your vocal range?
In Carnatic music, you can do this by practising Sthayi varishais/varusalu. These are svara patterns in different octaves that gradually help you in singing lower and higher svaras/notes. In Hindustani music, Kharaj ka Riyaz is serves the same purpose. You can find these vocal exercises in our Hindustani 101 course. Mornings are usually the best time to practise these vocal exercises as your voice can go deeper compared to the rest of the day. Practising lower registers in the mornings will also significantly help in your ability to practise higher registers later.
How can I find my vocal range?
Riyaz comes with “My vocal range” feature (can be found in the side menu), which will help you find your vocal range which also suggests an ideal sruti for your voice. Here is a video explaining how it works.
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Thank you for this app. It is really helping me to practice and improve my singing.
Article is very informative for beginner like me but I am not able to understand ‘Choosing right sruti’.
Anyways keep coming with more informative articles.
That’s awesome to hear, Ricky! Let me try to explain the part you weren’t able to understand. Let’s say the lowest note you are able to sing is X. This X can be anything. For me, it is G2 (98 Hz). Half octave above that is D3 (146.83 Hz), which will be my Sruti. This will be my ‘Sa’ of the middle octave (madhyama sthayi).
If you are not aware of D3/G2, look at this article on wiki – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_pitch_notation
Hope that helps in understanding it better.
How you lay out the steps how I can use this app to find my lowest note so that I can find my right Sa. I usually sing in A but I have a feeling that A# might be more comfortable for me. However going half octave above A# might be a problem.
Please give a time table to follow rehaj
More modules how to download
Hi Nayan,
We release new modules frequently, and they automatically are downloaded to your mobile when you practise. We post these updates on our facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/RiyazApp. Join us there to stay tuned 🙂
Thank you very much for this app. This is very well structured and makes the concept of indian classical music easier to understand.
I can’t understand about Sruti.. Plis explain… In Hindi
Hi Shivani,
We will try to post this soon in Hindi. Stay tuned 🙂
I am using the app to practice my scales, I have selected my Pitch as C, but I find every time I try, my voice naturally pitches a tiny little bit below C, is there some way I can adjust the setting to a shade below C, or should I train my voice to hit C perfectly?
Hi Milind,
In music classes, it is a common practise to make lessons available in frequently practised scales/srutis. And it is very common that students find themselves singing slightly above or below a chosen standard scale like C in your case. Usually, students are encouraged to sing in the provided scale as it also later becomes easier to tune instruments when you sing in a group.
Best wishes.
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Hey its an awesome app i must say..!! and i have been there for a very long time and seen the improvements the app has made over the few time..! Congratulations.. ! 🙂
But, i also have the same problem with choosing the right scale..i find myself i can sing sa in all three scales that is c,c# ,D. It is like which ever sound i hear i am able to sing it. But sometimes that creates lot of stain and it hurts sometimes it doesnot.
I am not able to understand the shruti concept..and i dont have anyother instrument..so i would like to ask you how can i find my right scale..and also can you add a feauture to the app to find the scale?
Thank you!
Rohit, I completely understand this, I was in the same boat as you are now sometime ago. So we decided to make things super easy for beginners. This week, there is something very nice coming on Riyaz that will help you identify your scale more easily. I will update the article with instructions as soon as it is on playstore 🙂
Hello sir , this is a fantastic app for Riyaz basically, but how can I know my proper scale ,well right now i’m doing Riyaz on scale A or B and its good but I want to know my scale as I said.. Plz help.. , Thanks
What if my lowest note is G1/G#1, what would be my scale?
C2 /C#2 resp. Basically treat your lowest note as PA. And count PA, dh, DH, ni, NI, SA (small case = komal).
Thanks it is helpful.. but actually when i start to sing my scale was in A3.. i just gradually increase my voice. but now i could comfortably sing D4 scale.. is that ok to switch other scales? Or do i have to maintain the same scale that i previously sing?
Hello,
This app is really nice..
Four years back I joined Hindustani music. Teacher asked me to sing A#. I practised that only but for a year, not regularly. I had problem with my throat that time ENT asked not to sing or I will lose my natural voice.
Now, the Riyaz m trying. I can comfortably practise in A# only. But there is breathing problems where there is SaSa’ (low and high swara together).
And other thing is when I sing, like any song, some of my friends say there is no swara, only voice. What is it? What improvement I needed.
Thanks for this app! It’s nicely done but useless for me as of now. I am hoping to see you will add more scales. I sing in F# (Kaali Teen, male). Can you add that asap, pleeease!
I want to know my sruti/scale.
How to fix c sharp d d sharp in sruti
Hai pranesh ji .. in my know ledge you go to settings icon and change scale D#3
How to fix sruti
I take pleasure in, result in I found exactly what I was having a look for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye musical artist
Sir , I am beginner. I am beginner. I am 16 year old. Sir please tell me that in HINDUSTANI, on which scale I should do riyaz?
Hi can you please understand in simple hindi or urdu
Or make the video on it. It’s your most kindness otherwise it’s good app
My lowest is c2# n highest is my triva. What is my shut.
What’s the difference between d#3 and d#2..
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How to do sa ka riyaz
Is it okay to have a narrow octave(0.7) as im beginner?? Any thing other than that strains my throat so…
Riyaz App suggest my shruti key G#2, So G#2 (which is mandra saptak pa) become ‘Sa’ for me. Usually it is C#3 for male. Now i have confusion here i have to do only Riyaz of ‘Sa’ and Riyaz of alankar on this G#2 key Or what ever the song i will practice also on this key by converting its original scale to G#2. On the other hand G#2 is a low note so is this good idea to practice song on this key?
Please advice me….the shruti key G#2 suggested by App is this okay? Or i should riyaz ‘Sa’ on higher note….I noticed my vocal range is D#2 to D#4
What an awesome app!! I just discovered this today. I’m a novice. Still exploring, but I have a few quick questions …
1. Where can I find the ‘Vocal register’ you referred to up above? I’d like to find mine.
2. The app seems to work on in landscape mode.. it doesnt have a portrait mode?
3. Where can I find what ‘Premium’ offers?
My vocal range is F#2 to B4 and its showing the comfort zone is B2. Is this common?
Ja
My music teacher says I should sing in Kali 4 or A flat, Riyaz app shows my scrutiny as D3.
I often see videos of people singing in either C scale or G, and G seems to be nearer to my voice
Highly confused
Please help
Sing at ji,g
MEANT G IS GOOD FOR YOU,JI.
Outstanding fantastic article. I would go through app also, fingers crossed. For passionate new beginners like me, its like whole new world of hope & happiness. I used to only listen & copy sing, with no formal training. I knew nothing about basics of singinging or scales. Thank you so very much for this immense help 💐💐🙏🙏🙋♂️🙋♂️
This is not good app. There is no My vocal range feature in the latest version. This may be some kind of catch to make you install their app.
My vocal range is G3 to G5 .plz suggest me Singers who have same vocal range and the example songs I should sing.Which genre I have ?Plz if anyone answer