Melakarta 35 · Rutu chakra · M1 · vivadi
Shulini
शूलिनी
Shulini is the 35th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R3 G3 M1 P D2 N3.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Shulini, 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, Shulini is built from a augmented second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R3 G3 M1 P D2 N3; 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 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Shulini harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Shulini 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
- VII♭5 B(b5) major flat fivedominant
- V+ Gaug augmenteddominant
- IV F majorpredominant
- II· D#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- iii Em minorcolour
- vi Am minorcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Shulini
Shulini 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 Shulini
What is the Shulini raga?
Shulini is melakarta number 35 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R3 G3 M1 P D2 N3.
What are the janya ragas of Shulini?
Shulini is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.