Not the OP, but I'm quite interested in music. I don't think a 'musical ear' is something you're born with. Once you start learning to play an instrument where

Not the OP, but I'm quite interested in music. I don't think a 'musical ear' is something you're born with. Once you start learning to play an instrument where you have to tune it yourself, you get better at distinguishing between pitches. Special talent is required to identify the exact frequency of notes. Everyone can identify the difference between two pitches (intervals). Plus, you will also notice that when two frequencies are at the same pitch (or at perfect intervals) something clicks between the tones. If two tones are similar but not at perfect intervals you hear it through the physical resonance, the distortion fades away when you get them right. Over time you'll start noticing these. To pursue this,get a tibetan bowl for example, it only produces one note but with many beautiful overtones. You'll start to understand the vibrations. I am not Indian and don't have much experience with Indian classical music, but Indian music relies heavily on timbre, sympathetic resonances etc. The note is not only made off of its frequency, the timbre plays a lot of role. If you can get your hands on one, I'd suggest start experimenting with a tanpura. Learn a couple of tunings, play drone notes along your favorite tunes. If you can only tune one string to an electric tuner and try to tune the other strings with ear. This will develop your 'musical ear' immensely. Music is magical, you can surely learn it.