Learn Indian music notation. Carnatic Indian music has seven basic notes: Shadjam (Sa), Rishabam (Ri), Gandharam (Ga), Madhyamam (Ma), Panchamam (Pa), Dhaivatham (Da to Dha) and Nishadam (Ni). Sargam notation is a technique used for sight-singing. According to the Rhythm N Raga website, the Indian musical scale developed from three swara (notes) to make up a scale of seven saptaka (octaves). The seven saptaka comprise 22 Shruthi (microtones). Indian musicians know the seven notes of the scale as Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni. These seven notes of the scale do not have equal intervals between them.
Familiarize yourself with traditional and modern music of the Indian culture. The two main forms of Indian classical music are Hindustani, the music of North India, and the Carnatic music of South India. Khyal, modern Indian classical singing, and dhrupad, traditional classical singing, are the two main forms of Hindustani music. The instruments, melodies and style of Hindustani classical music are similar to Persian music. Carnatic is the oldest form of music in the world and has a very complex music system, according to the Carnatic India website. The Carnatic music system consist of melodic scales (ragas) and rhythmic cycles (talas).
Familiarize yourself with Indian instruments. Instruments Hindustani musicians play include the sitar, surbahar, tanpura, bansuri, shehnai, pakhavaj and tabla. Instruments that make Carnatic music include the violin, venu, gottuvadyam, harmonium, mridangam and ghatam.
Listen to traditional and modern Indian artists of all genres, such as Shankar Mahadevan, Alka Yagnik and Begum Akhtar and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.