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.
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.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R1 | minor second (m2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N3 | major 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 Cm minorhome
- V♭5 G(b5) major flat fivedominant
- VII· B(cluster) clusterdominant
- IV F majorpredominant
- II+ Dbaug augmentedpredominant
- vi° Adim diminishedcolour
- III+ Ebaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
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.
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?
Kokilapriya is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.