Melakarta 32 · Rutu chakra · M1 · vivadi
Ragavardhini
रागवर्धिनी
Ragavardhini is the 32nd melakarta raga. Its scale is S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N2.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Ragavardhini, 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, Ragavardhini is built from a augmented second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S g G m P d n.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R3 | augmented second (A2) |
| 3 | G3 | major third (M3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Ragavardhini harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Ragavardhini and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- I C majorhome
- VIIsus4 Bbsus4 suspended fourthdominant
- v♯5 Gm(#5) minor sharp fivedominant
- iv Fm minorpredominant
- II· D#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- iii° Edim diminishedcolour
- VI+ Abaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Ragavardhini
Ragavardhini 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 Ragavardhini
What is the Ragavardhini raga?
Ragavardhini is melakarta number 32 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N2.
What are the janya ragas of Ragavardhini?
Ragavardhini is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.