Raise your Swaras, Not Voice

This video is especially made for those who wish to strike the perfect swara. The technique discussed in it is about fine tuning, playing with the shrutis (the in between tones) to achieve it. In fact, in Indian Classical, swara holds the utmost importance. It is the only medium, which is used to express one's emotions and feelings.
Concept and Methodology
Key concept is about fine tuning the note, oscillating it slightly lower or higher than its actual pitch and finding out the resonating point and sustaining it. This is the way through which we can actually target the right note and refine our singing abilities.
About Nishant Akshar
NIshant Akshar is a graduate in Indian Classical Music from Gandharava Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi and teaches Indian Classical - Hindustani (Vocal) online. He is a composer and singer of ghazals in particular and has worked in other genres such as bhajans, thumris and other light Indian music category.

[@shantil7764]

Volume is so important, thanks to you I understood the difference between volume of swara and frequency of swara.

[@darrenbancroft5388]

Thank you. A vety helpful video. 🙏🏿

[@CutePokapipi]

The reason why I come back to Nishant Guru ji all the time is because he seems like a very kind teacher. And also because the tanpura is not too loud in the background, I can hear him properly.

[@voicewithchoice4197]

Wah wah wah lajawab

[@indin1718]

Omg!!! How amazing!

[@ravindranathmenon1090]

Thank you.

[@dr.machhindrapachpinde594]

Very nice 👍

[@DivineBansuri]

Excellent !!...Pakke Sur means exactly hitting the PERFECT Pitch for EACH Sudh Swar in any scale ....Perfect means absolutely perfect...as closest as possible and as steady as possible...

[@sortof3337]

I have a perfect pitch in my ear not my voice, but I got your point. It was so wonderful seeing you go up and down. It is so wonderful when you actually hit the note.

[@arshadhusain11]

Thank you sir very halpfull. I like it so much sir

[@vijaysrivastava7567]

You are awesome sir!!!!

[@pujasrivastava9197]

Very beautiful and useful video for music students and new singers.....sir mujhe bahut hi achcha feel ho rha h ye video dekhkr 😊😊

[@sudiptopramanick7610]

I Just Love the way You articulate the Lessons!! Thank You So Much Sir!!👍👍👍😀

[@divakarkhedwal6326]

Sir...Aap yaman or bhairav ke alawa kisi other raag ka video bhi upload kare ...plz

[@UTTAMKUMAR-gu5fu]

सर जी आप से निवेदन है की कृपा कर के आप हिंदी में ही बोले क्योंकि हम अंग्रेज नही है हम हिंदू है हिंदुस्तानी है हिंदी सुने में , बोलने में कितना सुंदर लगता है आप बहुत अच्छा सीखा रहे है

[@DTSTalks]

Hello Sir Namaste 🙏. Can you take personal classes

[@rajatchakraborty8966]

Great demo

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Very useful sir

[@kameseram6654]

Yes

[@saujankhapung2968]

THank you so much sir. It was very informative. the best vocal lessons on the whole internet is available here. Wish more people knew about your work sir.

[@ramantewari]

Thank you for making it ... The best part is you sharing your personal experiences and life moments.... Please do that often sir , a humble request...

[@NishantAkshar]

Raman Tewari It’s a self promise indeed. I owe this courage to all lovers of Indian music including you Raman. Shall certainly do it adhering to consistency this time. Wishes and love.

[@mrmiah7184]

Perfect 👌🏼

[@heerbhatt642]

Love this video sir so helpful thank you so much sir...❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@doat60]

Still waiting for the video on taar saptak...

[@ga1836]

Thank u, Sir. Awesome

[@Chandrakala521589]

wonderful concept guruji! Loved it!

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

Hello sir AAP bahut bahut ache ho me apki singing ko follow kr Raha Hu please sir muje apka contact krna hai Meri bahut bahut icha hai

[@akhileshdwivedi8091]

Thank you so much Sir for sharing this video with us it is very beneficial.. :-)

[@baharrunzun2598]

Namskar sir, aap jyada vedio bnaya kijiye ,aapse sikhna achha lgta hai🍀🥀

[@NishantAkshar]

Bahar Runzun Thank you so much. I will, certainly.

[@SauravSonthalia]

Sir u r just great humein aapse sikhna ho toh sir kya yeh possible h and one thing I want to know sikhne k liye is age matters

[@NishantAkshar]

Thank you so much. You are always welcome. May drop a request on my skype id mentioned at the end of video. The pursuit of art and literature is ageless in my opinion. However if one is seeking profession out it, age definitely matters. 'Catch them young' fits the bill here.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Namashkar Sir please do a video on mastering thal. I am trying to figure out how to master thal. In the US, it is very difficult to get live tabla accompaniment to practice with regularly, so I use electronic tabla or itablapro app to master the bols of various thals like theenthal, Jhaptaal, keherwa, dadra, rupakthal, ekthal. I am pretty good with theenthal and ekthal madhyalay and drut and vilambit ekthal, and dadra and keherwa but I still need practice with Jhaptaal and rupakthal. Please recommend some tips. It is very much appreciated.

[@euroclydiangamit9292]

Good information sir..

[@musicgym3740]

Sir plz help me,mera Saa thik nhi ho rha hai,main bht din thik karne ka koshish kar raha hu plz sir help me plz plz plz,mere ko samjh nhi aa rha h main kia karu.

[@lakshminarasimhan2699]

Do you like Raag Yaman Sir?

[@armoogumrhada6826]

Thks sir I really appreciate it but one ? I do that mistake and found my voice strain how to correct it pls

[@jigggro]

Namaste Sir. Is it possible to use any of your exercises to improve one's speaking voice ? It is something I am very interested in. Would really appreciate some guidance 🙏

[@NishantAkshar]

Singing is merely an extension of speech. We experience massive change in pitch as we glide through many notes while singing. Please note that a good singer is a good speaker as well. I personally feel that relaxed and unfettered mind is the first step towards good voice, both for speaking and singing. All exercises related to singing are bound to elevate your speaking ability. Effective speaking is all about pitch change as it helps us to express our feelings and emotions in a better way.

[@CutePokapipi]

@@NishantAkshar this is the best advice I have received since I'm too forceful a speaker because I'm currently in a constant struggle in my own mind, so I tend to sort of harshly speak to everyone.

[@joerokcz]

Sir, I am following you for a long time. I have real trouble to sing Indian classical vibrato or what you call 'Gamak'. I have seen your gamak video. I am trying to practice various arahan and abrahan by 'aa' only, but i am not getting the perfection, will take a lot time? Or my practice is wrong? Could you please comment on that

[@NishantAkshar]

Ankur Bhattacharya Please note that there is a lot of difference between vibrato and gamak. Don’t get confused on that. Anyway, in my opinion, you must practice the paltaas in akaar. Please also note that don’t force the akaar too much as I have seen many students doing that. Just go for plain transitions initially and gamak would come on its own in the process. Key is to concentrate on my paltaas videos than that one, which you mentioned.

[@NeSa-mf3gf]

sir are you doing online classes? from srilanka

[@ankit1906]

Sir I want to learn music, I don't have any guidance..

[@kuchabhi]

Thank you so much for illustrating this concept. I have this question: how do I find the exact location of Swara for practice? With the help of a keyboard?

[@mvenkattube]

Hi Sir, I am from Bangalore and learning Carnatic music. I have the similar problem of not being able to sing at the perfect note and not at par with Shruthi. As you mentioned I recently started using a DA Tuner app to measure but I know that's not a scientific method. Can you please guide me how can I improve my swara gnan skills..

[@topprhub]

Sir i don't know why when i drag the saptha swaras..it goes on smoothly nd correctly but when i reach niiii saaa in aarohana..its not possible for me to drag..my voice gets cracked..plz give me a tip sir..am trying from weeks..its not possible 😩😩

[@NishantAkshar]

It is natural if we don’t sing naturally. The cracked voice has many factors behind, lack of proper sleep, tiredness, allergies, voice fatigue etc. Nevertheless, we shall discuss here the right technique of preventing the distortion bothering you. Key for you is to maintain softness throughout the saptak in throwing weight on your voice, even at the cost of whispering. While keeping this in mind and treading steadily with every note, you shall certainly get through.

[@jhantudas3558]

Sir kindly higher notes ke throwing dikhaiye 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

And sir muje music sikhane Wala koi nahi hai but me apke singing ko follow krte krte bahut Sikh Gaya hu but muje riyaz me kuch doughts hai please sir muje cler karna hai

[@NishantAkshar]

Bhavesh Chavda You are always welcome. I appreciate.

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

@@NishantAkshar sir me apka Dil se sukriya karta hu

[@be_cool_like_a_yogi]

My wait z over.. thank you for the invaluable stuff

[@singerpremkrishn]

Thank u Guruji

[@SP-bj8vz]

May be I am late joining the conversation However, the last part of this video, I couldnt understand. Do you suggest that one should criss cross on either side of a given note,...?? Thats what I get from your example. You must excuse me, I am an absolute beginner...

[@TheNagualZone]

Nishanji March 2019 ho gaya! hum logon ko abandon mat kariye aise! ek hello daal dijiye video ka...kuch gaayaki ke saath - haath jodta hoon

[@munirchand9526]

Super kan

[@EducationalConsultant21]

sir me 1 saal se claasical sikh raha hu but i knw theaory well but i dont want understand how to these all include in gayiki...so pls guide me me kese ye sab gaane me apply kar saku..

[@NishantAkshar]

Avinash Solanki Always try to connect the notes differently. Do carefully observe the patterns used by other singers. Be slow with your practice initially and increase speed thereafter.

[@AcousticVenky]

u r amazing, sir!

[@purusharthsingh6351]

sir how to take murki n khatka while doing riyaaz..?

[@NishantAkshar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaXCgYaYp8trqqM see if it works please

[@nainanainu5497]

Sir...i am beginner, 1 2 hafte ho re muje....holding notes mai abhi bhot shakiness aati hai....

[@saurabhsharma6673]

Please make a video for gamak

[@NishantAkshar]

Please see if it works... kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaXCgYaYp8trqqM

[@digantadas9630]

Sir, there is something special in your voice and teaching. With due respect I want to inform you that it becomes considerably problematic when I practice a while in higher notes like Ga Ma in taar saptak, my voice doesn't permit immediately to sing in the lower octave Pa. It takes a little time to settle... Secondly, I can touch Ma even Pa in Taar saptak but I can't stay there and if I want to stay my voice becomes little cracky kind of . And then my voice gets choked or little rough in singing immediately the lower octave Pa. Is it the matter of time or riwaj or practice or something is being wrong. Please be kind to answer me Sir.

[@sharmaji1991]

No problem bro. Just do practice

[@ga1836]

Sir, kya aapki aawaz mei devotional songs sunaoge?

[@NishantAkshar]

I will, certainly. In fact, planning to sing extempore traditional devotional lyrics along with tabla, harmonium and tanpura.

[@arjunsharma0797]

Sir, are you in Delhi?

[@divmusic786]

Thnks 🙂

[@ponnadi1973]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Govindsinghmusic]

Are you talking about shrutis...??

[@NishantAkshar]

GOVIND SINGH Yes, you are absolutely right. I am highlighting the shrutis more than required in this particular video drawing ones attention towards that resonating point, which is the perfect swara. A student of vocals must be adept in this exercise as it forms the foundation of further exploration giving due importance to the swara, the supreme truth in Indian Classical.

[@Govindsinghmusic]

@@NishantAkshar Sir, you are seriously doing outstanding work...i love your videos....thankew for this reply....please keep posting the videos...we really need help of experienced and good teachers like you.....especially your way of practically explaining the things....thanks a lot sir... :)

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

yes. very true sir. i am learning advanced hindustani vocal music rigorously for the past 7 years in the US. My training has included sargam geeths, lakshan geeths, bandishes in madhyalay, drut, and vilambit layas, taranas, thumrs, dadras, abhangs bhajans, film hits mastery of improvisational techniques in hindustani music such as swar badath, alap, bolalap, firat, behelawah, bolbant, sargam, laykari, dugun, tigun, chugun, and taan and mastery of various taals in hindustani music such as teental, jhapthal, ekthal, rupakthal, keherwa, bhajani keherwa, dadra, dipchandi, addha, punjabi, etc...I can pretty much most often match the "sur". i have had some training in hindustani music during my younger days for 7 years which included madhyalay bandishes in various ragas, lots of bhajans, lots of ghazals, lots of film songs and playing harmonium. And now i am expanding on that. I have also had rigorous training in carnatic classical vocal for 16 years in my younger. my hindustani teacher says that because of my training in carnatic music that i have no problem with sur matching or catching the raag and grasping the improvisational techniques of hindustani music. But i still have a long ways to go and a lot to learn. bharat ratna pundit bhimsen joshi and sangeet martand pundit jasraj, who is my guru's guru are my role models.

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

Suna hai ki voice me siftness rakhna chahiye but kese vohi nahi pata

[@NishantAkshar]

A bit of stiffness is needed especially when you have to attain speed while going through the notes with faster tempo. You may practice sapaat taan for the purpose where you slip on to the next without giving even a tad of jerk. Make sure that you must do it with speed at which you are comfortable.

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

@@NishantAkshar Yas sir apne sahi kaha but muje aaj Tak sahi riyaz nahi mila me iski khoj me hu but apka riyas bahut help kar Raha hai Or sir riyas me softness kese rakhe or Meri voice me nosal effect bahut aa rahi hai uska Kya Kari sir

[@NishantAkshar]

Bhavesh Chavda I have noted this. Shall probably try to resolve this issue in one of my next videos. Stay tuned.

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

@@NishantAkshar ohk sir thank you so much

[@bhaveshchavda9103]

@@NishantAkshar or nishant sir me apko ho follow karunga apki singing bahut achi lagti hai sir

[@sakshievamusic3838]

🙏👌👌👌

[@soumalyasinghoroy4938]

Guruji after doing rewaz the lower notes I feel my voice became heavy ..... Even my talking voice .... Plz sir tell me what should I do ?

[@NishantAkshar]

Soumalya Singhoroy It’s natural. Don’t get bothered with that. Give some rest and you are back to your natural pitch. Good heavy voice is something to cherish.

[@soumalyasinghoroy4938]

Thank you guruji. ... I feel blessed that I got suggestion from you .. I will keep your words in mind ... Again thank you guruji ....

[@rutil1446]

@@NishantAkshar sir can you also please explain how to sing high notes I am having major trouble even singing taar sa.

[@drkaushalpatel76]

Sorry to say, but why cant u say swar.. instead of swara.. why v use our own indian words in european perspective..!? Thanks

[@NishantAkshar]

I can say it but want them to understand our music from their perspective. Perspective holds more importance than words to me. Language is communication. Music is communion.

[@UTTAMKUMAR-gu5fu]

माफ करे यदि आपको बुरा लगा हो तो

[@santoshkadam4943]

Sr plz hindi me

[@sarathkrishna07]

I got the point.But it is tough to me😂

[@nobitanobi1178]

1st

[@UTTAMKUMAR-gu5fu]

हिंदी बोलने में क्यों शर्म कर रहे वही तो पहचान है हमारी

[@vineek1]

Compared to other videos, your voice is painfully weak, it is frustrating.