Tag: travel

Sa Re Ga Ma vs C D E F G – The Fun Guide to Indian Sargam and Western Notation

If you’ve ever been stuck at a wedding between the nadaswaram/shehnai player and the Western band belting out “Summer of ’69”, you’ve probably asked yourself the deep, philosophical question:

Why on earth are there two ways to write music, and which one should I bother learning before my next rebirth?

So, let’s introduce our two contestants.

Contestant One: The Indian Sargam

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa

Sargam is that genial uncle who says, “Just come, beta, we’ll adjust,” and actually means it. No fuss about where you start—today Sa might be C, tomorrow Sa might be D, and next week it could be on a note only the neighbourhood cat can hear.

  • Relative Pitch = Chill Vibes If Sa is the first step, the rest of the staircase adjusts itself. It’s musical jugaad at its finest.
  • Vocal-Friendly No singer has ever said, “Oh no, I can’t sing today because Sa is stuck on 261.63 Hz.” You just shift it, smile, and carry on.
  • Ornaments Galore Sargam doesn’t just give you notes—it lets you bend them, slide them, and add so much gamaka that even the note doesn’t know where it started.

Think of Sargam as the filter coffee of music—warm, strong, flexible, and doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

Contestant Two: The Western Notation

C D E F G A B C

Now here comes the second cousin—neat haircut, wearing a suit, and carrying a folder. Everything has to be exact. If C is 261.63 Hz, that’s where it stays. If you dare move it, there will be meetings, memos, and possibly a sternly worded email from a conductor.

  • Absolute Pitch = Discipline It’s the GPS of music—you know exactly where you are at all times.
  • Visual Map of Sound Those five lines, dots, flags, and squiggles are like an architect’s blueprint. You can rebuild the Taj Mahal in notes if you know how to read them.
  • International Passport Whether you’re in Madras, Madrid, or Madagascar, this script will be understood. (Except maybe by your local auto driver.)

Western notation is like ordering pizza—fixed recipe, precise toppings, and yes, people will notice if you replace mozzarella with paneer.

Which is More “Scientific”?

Here is where Uncle Rajan wades into the conversation. “All that is fine saar, but which one is more scientific?”

Western notation wins if “scientific” means standardisation and precision—like laboratory coffee: exact temperature, exact brew time, exact bitterness.

But Sargam has its own science—more like grandma’s cooking. She doesn’t measure, yet every dish tastes exactly right. The science is in the relationship between notes, not their fixed coordinates.

Which is Easier and More Practical?

  • If you’re starting out: Sargam is the easy entry—like learning cricket in your backyard before playing in a stadium.
  • If you’re handling an orchestra: Western notation keeps the chaos in check. Without it, your 40-piece ensemble might sound like 40 street vendors shouting in different keys.
  • If you’re doing fusion: Learn both. Sargam keeps your Indian side, Western notation keeps your drummer from walking off stage.

Final Verdict

Neither is “better”—they’re just designed for different musical worlds.

Sargam is like filter coffee at the corner kaapi kadai: flexible, soulful, forgiving.

Western notation is like an espresso from an Italian café: intense, precise, and possibly served with a side of attitude.

If you can master both, you’re musically bilingual. And like knowing how to make both idly and pasta, you’ll never go hungry—either for food or for tunes.

Why Everest Is Just Another Hill: The Quest for the True Mountain Monarchs

Everest – not the tallest mountain!

Everest, oh Everest! You’ve been hogging the limelight for far too long, basking in the glory of being the “tallest” mountain in the world. But what if I told you that Everest is the high school quarterback of mountains – popular based on old statistics and a lot of hype? Yes, folks, it’s time to debunk the myth and introduce you to the true giants of the mountain world. Why, you ask? Because, dear readers, sea level isn’t the same all around this wonderful globe of ours. So, strap on your virtual hiking boots, and let’s scale the peaks of truth.

The Problem with Sea Level: A Watery Quandary

  • Fluid Foundation: Sea level, as it turns out, is about as stable as your average pudding during an earthquake. Due to gravitational forces, the rotation of the Earth, and the distribution of continents, sea level can vary significantly.
  • Everest’s Elevation Enigma: Measured from sea level, Everest stands tall at 29,029 feet. But since sea level is not uniform, who’s to say Everest is the true champion?

The Real Titans of Topography

Now, let’s take a moment to shine a spotlight on the mountains that have been living in Everest’s shadow, patiently waiting for their moment in the sun.

  1. Chimborazo’s Claim to Fame: This Ecuadorian beauty might not top charts with its height, but due to the equatorial bulge, it’s the farthest point from the Earth’s center. Sorry, Everest, but Chimborazo is sticking its peak out farther into space than you!
  2. Mauna Kea’s Underwater Secret: When measured from its underwater base, Mauna Kea in Hawaii towers at over 33,000 feet, making Everest look like a mere molehill in comparison. Most of its mass is underwater, making it the ultimate “It’s what’s on the inside that counts” story.
  3. Denali’s Dramatic Dominance: In the realm of base-to-peak elevation gain, Alaska’s Denali is the true heavyweight, rising majestically with a vertical relief that puts Everest’s slope to shame. It’s all about the climb, after all.

Why Everest Might Need to Step Down

  • The Gravity of the Situation: Given the gravitational anomalies, if we’re measuring “tallness” based on distance from the Earth’s center, Everest is just not cutting it.
  • The Sea Level Scandal: With sea level playing fast and loose around the globe, Everest’s title is as shaky as a fiddler on a roof in a windstorm.

The Underdogs Are Having Their Day

It’s time to celebrate the unsung heroes of the mountaineering world, those majestic masses of rock and ice that have quietly defied the odds, without the fanfare accorded to Everest. These are the mountains that have been training in the background, ready for their moment in the spotlight.

Conclusion: The Mountainous Truth

So, there you have it, folks. While Everest might have the brand recognition, when you dive into the nitty-gritty of what makes a mountain truly “tall,” it’s clear that there are other contenders for the crown. Let’s give a round of applause for the real MVPs of the mountain world, who’ve been towering quietly, biding their time until science and humor could finally unveil their true stature.

In the end, perhaps it’s not about which mountain is the tallest, but about celebrating the incredible diversity and awe-inspiring beauty of our planet’s topography. So, next time someone brags about climbing Everest, just nod knowingly and whisper, “But have you heard of Chimborazo?”

And remember, in the world of mountains, as in life, it’s all about perspective.