Websites & apps

Long-running Hindustani resource with raga notes, aroha-avaroha, pakad and bandish notations, compiled by Pt. Vinayak Phatak's tradition of students.

Best for: Students looking up bandishes and raga grammar.

Deep, scholarly essays on individual ragas with rare recordings, written by Rajan Parrikar.

Best for: Serious listeners and scholars.

Large database of Carnatic ragas, kritis with lyrics and meanings, composers and glossary.

Best for: Looking up kriti lyrics and raga scales.

Raga and tala reference with bandish notations, artist profiles and an online tabla/tanpura.

Best for: Notations and tala reference.

Kolkata gurukul's site with raga descriptions, gharana history and artist information.

Best for: Gharana and raga background.

Free lessons, notations and audio for Carnatic basics, varnams and kritis.

Best for: Self-learners starting Carnatic music.

Available on: Android, iOS

A family of apps teaching sarali varisai, janta varisai and alankarams with audio.

Best for: Beginner Carnatic lessons.

Available on: Android, iOS, Web

Maker of Riyaz; offers structured online courses with AI feedback in Hindustani and Carnatic vocals.

Best for: Structured self-paced courses.

Available on: Web, Android, iOS

Live one-on-one online classes with trained teachers in Hindustani, Carnatic and instruments.

Best for: Learners wanting a live teacher online.

Available on: Android, iOS

Singing practice app that listens to your voice and gives real-time pitch feedback on lessons and songs.

Best for: Vocal students practising pitch.

Available on: iOS, Android

Widely used electronic tanpura and tabla apps with realistic sound, many talas and tuning options.

Best for: Daily riyaz accompaniment.

Available on: iOS

AI accompaniment app: tanpura, tabla and harmony that follow your singing; includes raga-aware backing.

Best for: Performers wanting intelligent accompaniment.

Available on: Android

Simple, free electronic tanpura with adjustable pitch and tuning.

Best for: A free drone on Android.

Available on: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Swarshala is a full practice suite: tanpura, tabla, swaramandal, notation and raga ear training.

Best for: Teachers and advanced students.

Volunteer-run archive of Carnatic concert recordings shared for non-commercial listening.

Best for: Finding rare live concert recordings.

Available on: Web, YouTube

UK-based festival organiser with a large free library of filmed concerts and raga guides.

Best for: High-quality concert videos.

Public archive containing many old 78rpm records, radio broadcasts and concerts.

Best for: Historic recordings.

Available on: Web, Android, iOS

Indian music streaming service with dedicated Hindustani and Carnatic channels.

Best for: Casual classical listening.

Available on: All platforms

Mainstream streaming apps with large catalogues of classical albums and curated raga playlists.

Best for: Exploring albums by famous artists.

Active discussion forum for Carnatic music fans: concerts, ragas, artists and the December season.

Best for: Discussion with fellow rasikas.

India's leading magazine on classical music and dance — interviews, reviews and features.

Best for: News and in-depth articles.

Chennai concert listings and Margazhi season schedules, plus news.

Best for: Finding Carnatic concerts.