Reference material for musicians: list of Indian/Hindu musical scales with folding test instrument included.
Before diving into the concept of Raga, let us first understand the concept of Mela,
also called Thaat. These scales have seven notes in succession, with any form, flat or sharp, of a note.
Mela scales are quite equivalent to the musical scales of western music, like the major and minor heptatonic scales, and they are the
parents of Raga scales. The basic seven notes are sa, re,
ga, ma, pa, dha
and ni, which are equivalent to those of solfege notation (do,
re, mi, fa, sol,
la and si). Sa and pa do
not have any variation and are considered pure notes, whereas
re, ga, dha and ni
have a flat variation (being equivalent to flat re, flat me,
flat la and flat ti) and ma has a sharp
variation (being equivalent to sharp fa).
In every Mela scale all the seven notes of the octave are included, with only one of its variations. Overall, there are twelve notes (with
Carnatic music following a pattern of sixteen notes in total). There are 32 Mela scales according to the Hindustani or North Indian style
and 72 according to the Carnatic or South Indian style. Among the 32 Mela scales of Hindustani music, only ten are popular. Mela scales do
not have any melodic or aesthetic value; they are just theoretic scales used for the derivation of Raga scales.
Raga is a special concept unique to Indian music, either Hindustani or Carnatic. It is a particular type of scale which has aesthetic
value, because its notes have a specific melodic structure. There are generic rules for a scale to be considered a Raga, and every Raga
scale has as well a set of rules of its own, to be followed while building up its melodic framework. The following are the rules that a
Raga scale should adhere to:
- A Raga scale must be originated from a Mela scale.
- A Raga scale must have at least five notes.
- In a Raga scale the two inflections of a note (flat and sharp) should not come in succession.
- A Raga scale must have both ascending and descending (aroha and avaroha) order of notes.
- A Raga scale must include the note sa (equivalent of do in the solfege notation).
- A Raga scale must have at least one note from ma and pa
(equivalent of fa and so in the solfege notation).
- A Raga scale must have both vadi (the most important note which is used and shown the maximum number of
times in a Raga scale) and samvadi (the note which is next in importance and is in harmony with the
vadi) notes.
- A Raga scale must have an aesthetic value.
There are a few Raga scales which are exception to the second rule and, nonetheless, quite popular and well accepted as classic Raga
scales.
Besides, it has to be understood that the nature of a Raga scale goes far beyond the scope of these rules. There may be two or more Raga
scales which have the same notes and the ascending or descending order and which, however, sound very different from each other. This
happens because every Raga scale has its own style of pronouncing every note and also the movement of notes. It is important to remember
that the way the notes are approached and rendered in musical phrases, as well as the mood that they convey, are more important in
defining a Raga scale than the notes themselves. In classical music all of these rules have to be followed strictly, whereas in
semiclassical, light, devotional and other forms of performance a less strict approach may be applied.
Tritonic Scales
Raga Malasri
1, 3, 5
Raga Ongkari
1, #4, 5
Raga Sarvasri
1, 4, 5
Tetratonic Scales
Raga Bhavani
1, 2, 4, 6
Raga Lavangi
1, b2, 5, b7
Raga Mahathi
1, 3, 5, b7
Raga Sumukam
1, 2, #4, 7
Pentatonic Scales
Raga Abhogi
1, 2, b3, 4, 6
Raga Amritavarsini
1, 3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Audav Tukhari
1, 2, b3, 4, #5
Raga Bhinna Shadja
1, 3, 4, 6, 7
Raga Bhupalam
1, b2, b3, 5, b6
Raga Bupeshwari
1, 2, 3, 5, b6
Raga Chandrakauns Kafi
1, b3, 4, 6, b7
Raga Chandrakauns Kiravani
1, b3, 4, b6, 7
Raga Chandrakauns Modern
1, b3, 4, 6, 7
Raga Chaya Todi
1, b2, b3, b5, b6
Raga Desh
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
Raga Deshgaur
1, b2, 5, b6, 7
Raga Devakriya
1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Raga Devaranji
1, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Devranjani
1, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Dhavalashri
1, 3, #4, 5, 6
Raga Gambhiranata
1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Raga Gauri
1, b2, 4, 5, 7
Raga Girija
1, 3, 4, #5, 7
Raga Gorakh Kalyan
1, 2, 4, 6, b7
Raga Hamsadhvani
1, 2, 3, 5, b7
Raga Harikauns
1, b3, b5, b6, b7
Raga Hindol
1, 3, b5, 6, 7
Raga Jayakauns
1, b3, 4, b5, b7
Raga Khamaji Durga
1, 3, 4, 6, b7
Raga Kokil Pancham
1, b3, 4, 5, b6
Raga Kshanika
1, b2, 4, b6, 7
Raga Kumurdaki
1, 2, 3, b5, 7
Raga Kuntvarali
1, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Madhyamavati
1, 2, 4, 5, b7
Raga Malkauns
1, b3, 4, b6, b7
Raga Mamata
1, 3, 5, 6, 7
Raga Manaranjani 1
1, b2, 3, 5, b7
Raga Manaranjani 2
1, b2, 4, 5, 6
Raga Matha Kokila
1, 2, 5, 6, b7
Raga Megharanjani
1, b2, 3, 4, b6
Raga Megharanji
1, b2, 3, 4, 7
Raga Mohanangi
1, #2, 3, 5, 6
Raga Multani
1, b3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Nabhomani
1, b2, 2, #4, 5
Raga Nagasvaravali
1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Raga Nata
1, b3, 4, 5, 7
Raga Neroshta
1, 2, 3, b6, b7
Raga Priyadharshini
1, 2, 4, b6, 7
Raga Purnalalita
1, 2, b3, 4, 5
Raga Puruhutika
1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Rasika Ranjani
1, b2, 3, 5, 6
Raga Rasranjani
1, 2, 4, 6, 7
Raga Reva
1, b2, 3, 5, b6
Raga Salanganata
1, b2, 4, 5, b6
Raga Samudhra Priya
1, b3, #4, 5, b7
Raga Saugandhini
1, b2, #4, 5, b6
Raga Shailaja
1, b3, 5, b6, b7
Raga Shobhavari
1, 2, 4, 5, b6
Raga Shri Kalyan
1, 2, #4, 5, 6
Raga Sivaranjini
1, 2, b3, 5, 6
Raga Vaijayanti
1, 2, #4, 5, 7
Raga Valaji
1, 3, 5, 6, b7
Raga Vibhavari
1, b2, 4, 5, b7
Raga Zilaf
1, 3, 4, 5, b6
Hexatonic Scales
Raga Amarasenapriya
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Bagesri
1, 2, b3, 4, 6, b7
Raga Barbara
1, 2, 3, #4, 6, b7
Raga Bauli
1, b2, 3, 5, b6, 7
Raga Bhanumanjari
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b7
Raga Bhavani
1, b2, b3, b5, b6, b7
Raga Bhinna Pancama
1, 2, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Brindabani Sarang
1, 2, 4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Caturangini
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Chandrajyoti
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, 6
Raga Darbar
1, 2, 4, 5, 6 ,b7
Raga Dhavalangam
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6
Raga Dipak
1, 2, 3, 4, b5, 5
Raga Gandharavam
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b7
Raga Gaula
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Raga Ghantana
1, 2, b3, 4, b6, 7
Raga Gopikavasantam
1, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Gopriya
1, 2, 3, #4, #5, b7
Raga Gurjari Todi
1, b2, b3, b5, b6, 7
Raga Hamsa Vinodini
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Raga Hamsanandi
1, b2, 3, b5, 6, b7
Raga Hari Nata
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Hejjajji
1, b2, 3, #4, #5, 6
Raga Jaganmohanam
1, 2, #4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Jivantika
1, b2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Jivantini
1, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Jyoti
1, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Kaikavasi
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Kalagada
1, b2, 3, 5, b6, 6
Raga Kalakanthi
1, b2, 4, 5, b6, 6
Raga Kalavati
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Raga Kamalamanohari
1, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Kambhoji
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Raga Khamas
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Kumud
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Raga Latika
1, 2, 3, 5, b6, 7
Raga Madhukauns
1, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Sarasvati
1, 2, #4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Malayamarutam
1, b2, 3, 5, 6, b7
Raga Manavi
1, 2, b3, 5, 6, b7
Raga Mandari
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Manohari
1, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Mruganandana
1, 2, 3, b5, 6, 7
Raga Nagagandhari
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Nalinakanti
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Raga Navamanohari
1, 2, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Padi
1, b2, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Palasi
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b7
Raga Paraju
1, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Phenadyuti
1, b2, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Purna Pancama
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6
Raga Rageshri
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, b7
Raga Ranjani
1, 2, b3, b5, 6, 7
Raga Rasamanjari
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Rasavali
1, b2, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Rudra Pancama
1, b2, 3, 4, 6, b7
Raga Salagavarali
1, b2, b3, 5, 6, b7
Raga Sarang
1, 2, 4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Sarasanana
1, 2, 3, 4, b6, 7
Raga Sarasvati
1, 2, #4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Saravati
1, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Raga Sindhura Kafi
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 7
Raga Siva Kambhoji
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b7
Raga Suddha Bangala
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6
Raga Suddha Mukhari
1, b2, 2, 4, b6, 6
Raga Suddha Simantini
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6
Raga Suddha Todi
1, b2, b3, 4, b6, b7
Raga Syamalam
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6
Raga Takka
1, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Tilang
1, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Trimurti
1, 2, b3, 5, b6, b7
Raga Vasanta
1, b2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Raga Vasantabhairavi
1, b2, 3, 4, b6, b7
Raga Vijayanagari
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6
Raga Vijarasyi
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 7
Raga Vijayavasanta
1, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Raga Viyogavarali
1, b2, b3, 4, b6, 7
Raga Vutari
1, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Yamuna Kalyani
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6
Heptatonic Scales
Mela Bhavapriya
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Calanata
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Carukesi
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Chakravakam
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Citrambari
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Dharmavati
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Dhatuvardhani
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
Mela Dhavalambari
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Divyamani
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Ganamurti
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, b6, 7
Mela Gangeyabhusani
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Mela Gavambodhi
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Gayakapriya
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Harikambhoji
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Hatakambari
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Hemavati
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Salaga
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Jhalavarali
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, b6, 7
Mela Jhankaradhvani
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Jyotisvarupini
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Kantamani
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Kosalam
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Latangi
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
Mela Manavati
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Mararanjani
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Naganandini
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Namanarayani
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Natakrapiya
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Navanitam
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Nitimani
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Pavani
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Ragavardhani
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Raghupriya
1, b2, 2, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Ramapriya
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Rasikapriya
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Ratnangi
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Rupavati
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Sadvidhamargini
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Sanmukhapriya
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Senavati
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Shankarabharanam
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Sucaritra
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Sulini
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Suryakanta
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Suvarnangi
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Mela Syamalangi
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
Mela Tanarupi
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Vagadhisvari
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Vakulabharanam
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Mela Vanaspati
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, 6, b7
Mela Varunapriya
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Visvambhari
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Mela Yagapriya
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Raga Adana
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Ahir Bhairav
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Bhanumati
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, 6, b7
Raga Bilashkhani Todu
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Raga Ganasamavarali
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Kanakambari
1, b2, 2, 4, 5, b6, bb7
Raga Kiranavali
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Lalita
1, b2, 3, 4, b5, b6, 7
Raga Madhuri
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7, 7
Raga Marva That
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Patdip
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Ragesri
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, b7, 7
Raga Shri
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
Raga Shuddh Kalyan
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
Raga Simharava
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b7
Raga Sorati
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, b7, 7
Octatonic Scales
Raga Bhatiyar
1, b2, 3, 4, b5, 5, 6, 7
Raga Cintamani
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 6, b7
Raga Mian Ki Malhar
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7, 7
Raga Mukhari
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 6, b7
Raga Ramkali
1, b2, 3, 4, b5, 5, b6, 7
Raga Saurastra
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 6, 7
Nonatonic Scales
Raga Pilu
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 6, b7, 7
Raga Ramdasi Malhar
1, 2, b3, 3, #4, #5, 6, b7, 7
Decatonic Scales
Raga Sindhi Bhairavi
1, b2, 2, b3, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7, 7
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