Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Melakarta 11 · Netra chakra · M1

Kokilapriya

कोकिलप्रिया

Kokilapriya is the 11th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G2 M1 P D2 N3, the Western Neapolitan major.

SrgmPDN
Hear Kokilapriyachoose your Sa, then play
S1
R1m2
G2m3
M1P4
PP5
D2M6
N3M7
S'8
Open in the 3D sphere →

Hear it from musicians

Signature phrases for Kokilapriya, recorded by musicians in the community and curated by Jason Zac. Every phrase carries the artist’s name and link. Add your own voice to this raga.

The scale and its Western intervals

Reading up from Sa, Kokilapriya is built from a minor second, a minor third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G2 M1 P D2 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S r g m P D N.

DegreeSwaraInterval
1Sunison (1)
2R1minor second (m2)
3G2minor third (m3)
4M1perfect fourth (P4)
5Pperfect fifth (P5)
6D2major sixth (M6)
7N3major seventh (M7)

How Kokilapriya harmonizes

Stack thirds on each note of Kokilapriya and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.

  • i Gm minorhome
  • V♭5 D(b5) major flat fivedominant
  • VIIsus2♭5 F#sus2(b5) suspended second flat fivedominant
  • IV C majorpredominant
  • II+ Abaug augmentedpredominant
  • vi° Edim diminishedcolour
  • III+ Bbaug augmentedcolour

Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.

Janya ragas of Kokilapriya

These child ragas are born from Kokilapriya by dropping notes or bending the path: Vardhani. Each card shows the three things that make a janya itself: how many notes it keeps, which way its road runs (any vakra turn is ringed in red), and how it glides between swaras. See how janya ragas work.

Vardhaniवर्धनी

6 up · 7 downshadava-sampurnavakra turnglide

Rare; the climb skips Ri and doubles back at Ma.

Keeps all seven notes of Kokilapriya; only the path differs.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SG2M1PM1PD2N3S'S'N3D2PM1G2R1S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Music to learn in Kokilapriya

Kokilapriya is met most often as a parent scale for study and improvisation. Much of its living music flows through janya ragas; a good next step is to sing its scale slowly over a tanpura and explore its phrases in the 3D sphere.

Notated to play along

Each opens in Stage mode on a real staff, with the sung syllables under the notes. Loop it, change Sa, and play or sing along.

Open Kokilapriya in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Kokilapriya

What is the Kokilapriya raga?

Kokilapriya is melakarta number 11 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G2 M1 P D2 N3, which is the Western Neapolitan major.

Is Kokilapriya the same as the Western Neapolitan major?

Yes. Kokilapriya has exactly the same seven notes as the Neapolitan major, so the two are the same scale under different names.

What are the janya ragas of Kokilapriya?

Its well-known child ragas include Vardhani.