Hi,
I'm a new learner of the mridangam at the ripe young age of 42. I bought a mridangam last year from India that seems to have gone out of tune. It's been difficult for my teacher to help me tune it remotely. I'm looking for a mridangam artist in San Francisco Bay Area to help me tune it if possible. Willing to drive 40+ miles if required. I live in the South Bay.
Regards,
Sripathi
Mridangam Tuning SF Bay Area
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Nick H
- Posts: 9450
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Re: Mridangam Tuning SF Bay Area
It's not worth it. It might be out of tune again the next day... or after a 40 mile drive... or anytime. Especially with temperature changes etc. You seriously have to DIY! So there is no time to start learning like right now.
Get yourself a smooth stone (it doesn't have to be polished, just not rough) and a piece of stick, eg 3 inches of dowel or even broom stick.
What you might find the 40 mile drive useful for is an in-person practical demonstration. Might be easier to get the hang of it that way than online. A mridangist will also be able to help you out with checking that the strap is the right/even tension, etc.
For practice of basic lessons, it does not have to be in tune anyway. But, if you can already get a decent chapu sound, it is more pleasant to your own ears to get a nice sound from the mridangam even if you are only playing Tha Dhi Thom Nam! So even if it is not in tune with someone/thing else, it will sound better if it is same sruthi all round the head.
Have fun...
Get yourself a smooth stone (it doesn't have to be polished, just not rough) and a piece of stick, eg 3 inches of dowel or even broom stick.
What you might find the 40 mile drive useful for is an in-person practical demonstration. Might be easier to get the hang of it that way than online. A mridangist will also be able to help you out with checking that the strap is the right/even tension, etc.
For practice of basic lessons, it does not have to be in tune anyway. But, if you can already get a decent chapu sound, it is more pleasant to your own ears to get a nice sound from the mridangam even if you are only playing Tha Dhi Thom Nam! So even if it is not in tune with someone/thing else, it will sound better if it is same sruthi all round the head.
Have fun...
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shripathi_g
- Posts: 359
- Joined: 30 Mar 2005, 08:25
Re: Mridangam Tuning SF Bay Area
Hi Nick,
Big fan of your posts from back in the day. I wasn't really hoping to travel 40+ miles but hopefully just 5 since we have quite a few mridangam teachers around the area. But your point around learning to tune the mridangam myself is precisely the goal. I wanted to see it done in person once and from then I should be able to practice it myself. Unfortunately, I tried something from watching Youtube and ended up making a mess. Trying to avoid it again ha! The chapu is where most of the help is needed.
Sripathi
Big fan of your posts from back in the day. I wasn't really hoping to travel 40+ miles but hopefully just 5 since we have quite a few mridangam teachers around the area. But your point around learning to tune the mridangam myself is precisely the goal. I wanted to see it done in person once and from then I should be able to practice it myself. Unfortunately, I tried something from watching Youtube and ended up making a mess. Trying to avoid it again ha! The chapu is where most of the help is needed.
Sripathi
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Nick H
- Posts: 9450
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03
Re: Mridangam Tuning SF Bay Area
Thank you! It's been a long time, but I was indeed a mridangam student when I first encountered the internet. It's not that hard to tune, once one gets the hang of it. Within the limits of one's hearing of course, but even that improves with practice.
Yes, personal contact, watching and learning face to face really does help.
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rajeshnat
- Posts: 10090
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04
Re: Mridangam Tuning SF Bay Area
@Shripathi_g
Good to see you posting after eons.
If
In the event if you get the technique after doing it with some expert where you learn your self that is fine
Else
Play along as though you are the double mrudangam artist in whatever places that you like . You can start with pazhani-PMI and take it to the latest young doyens like Trichy Sankaran and UKS.
Good to see you posting after eons.
If
In the event if you get the technique after doing it with some expert where you learn your self that is fine
Else
Play along as though you are the double mrudangam artist in whatever places that you like . You can start with pazhani-PMI and take it to the latest young doyens like Trichy Sankaran and UKS.