Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Melakarta 19 · Veda chakra · M1 · vivadi

Jhankaradhvani

झङ्कारध्वनि

Jhankaradhvani is the 19th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N1.

SRgmPdD
Hear Jhankaradhvanichoose your Sa, then play
S1
R2M2
G2m3
M1P4
PP5
D1m6
N1d7
S'8
Open in the 3D sphere →

Hear it from musicians

Signature phrases for Jhankaradhvani, 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, Jhankaradhvani is built from a major second, a minor third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a diminished seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N1; in Hindustani sargam, S R g m P d D.

DegreeSwaraInterval
1Sunison (1)
2R2major second (M2)
3G2minor third (m3)
4M1perfect fourth (P4)
5Pperfect fifth (P5)
6D1minor sixth (m6)
7N1diminished seventh (d7)

How Jhankaradhvani harmonizes

Stack thirds on each note of Jhankaradhvani 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
  • Vsus2 Gsus2 suspended seconddominant
  • VII· Bbbsus4(#5) suspended sharp fivedominant
  • iv Fm minorpredominant
  • ii° Ddim diminishedpredominant
  • VI Ab majorcolour
  • III♭5 Eb(b5) major flat fivecolour

Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.

Music to learn in Jhankaradhvani

Jhankaradhvani 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.

Open Jhankaradhvani in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Jhankaradhvani

What is the Jhankaradhvani raga?

Jhankaradhvani is melakarta number 19 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N1.

What are the janya ragas of Jhankaradhvani?

Jhankaradhvani is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.