Melakarta 20 · Veda chakra · M1 ★ concert raga
Natabhairavi
नटभैरवी
Natabhairavi is the 20th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2, the Western Natural minor (Aeolian). It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Natabhairavi, 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, Natabhairavi is built from a major second, a minor third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S R g m P d n (the Asavari thaat).
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R2 | major second (M2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Natabhairavi harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Natabhairavi 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 Dm minordominant
- VII F majordominant
- iv Cm minorpredominant
- ii° Adim diminishedpredominant
- III Bb majorcolour
- VI Eb majorcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Natabhairavi
These child ragas are born from Natabhairavi by dropping notes or bending the path: Bhairavi, Anandabhairavi, Hindolam, Jonpuri, Saramati, Jayantashri. 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.
Bhairaviभैरवी
One of the ancient ragas; D2 climbing, D1 descending.
Keeps all seven notes of Natabhairavi. Borrows D2 from outside Natabhairavi: a bhashanga raga.
Anandabhairaviआनन्दभैरवी
A cradle of a raga; the zigzag at the start is its whole character.
Drops D1 from Natabhairavi. Borrows D2 from outside Natabhairavi: a bhashanga raga.
Hindolamहिन्दोलम्
A swing between shadows; no Ri, no Pa.
Drops R2 and P from Natabhairavi. Hindustani cousin: Malkauns.
Jonpuriजोनपुरी
Taken from the Hindustani Jaunpuri; no Ga on the way up.
Keeps all seven notes of Natabhairavi; only the path differs. Hindustani cousin: Jaunpuri.
Saramatiसारमति
A straight full climb and a short fall with no Pa and no Ri.
Keeps all seven notes of Natabhairavi; only the path differs.
Jayantashriजयन्तश्री
Hindolam's climb; the fall touches Pa once, in a turn at Ma.
Drops R2 from Natabhairavi.
Music to learn in Natabhairavi
Natabhairavi 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.
- Mahanata Bhairavi · Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer · Adi tala
In its janya ragas
- Samajavaragamana · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Hindolam
- Viriboni · Pacchimiriyam Adiyappayya · Khanda jati ata tala · Bhairavi
- Eppo Varuvaro · Gopalakrishna Bharati · Adi tala · Jonpuri
- Marugelara · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Jayantashri
- Chintaya Ma Kanda Mula Kandam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Bhairavi
- Mahilo Amba · Syama Sastri · Adi tala · Anandabhairavi
- Mamavatu Sri Saraswati · Mysore Vasudevachar · Adi tala · Hindolam
- Raveme Maguva · Melattur Veerabhadrayya · Adi tala · Anandabhairavi
Questions about Natabhairavi
What is the Natabhairavi raga?
Natabhairavi is melakarta number 20 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2, which is the Western Natural minor (Aeolian).
Is Natabhairavi the same as the Western Natural minor (Aeolian)?
Yes. Natabhairavi has exactly the same seven notes as the Natural minor (Aeolian), so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are the janya ragas of Natabhairavi?
Its well-known child ragas include Bhairavi, Anandabhairavi, Hindolam, Jonpuri, Saramati, Jayantashri.