Melakarta 39 · Rishi chakra · M2 · vivadi
Jhalavarali
झालवराली
Jhalavarali is the 39th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Jhalavarali, 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, Jhalavarali is built from a minor second, a diminished third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S r R M' P d N.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R1 | minor second (m2) |
| 3 | G1 | diminished third (d3) |
| 4 | M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Jhalavarali harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Jhalavarali and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- Isus2 Csus2 suspended secondhome
- VIIsus2 Bsus2 suspended seconddominant
- V♭5 G(b5) major flat fivedominant
- IIsus4 Dbsus4 suspended fourthpredominant
- IV· F#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- VI♭5 Ab(b5) major flat fivecolour
- III· Ebb(cluster) clustercolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Jhalavarali
These child ragas are born from Jhalavarali by dropping notes or bending the path: Varali. 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.
Varaliवराळी
One of the five ghana ragas; the climb circles before it rises.
Keeps all seven notes of Jhalavarali; only the path differs.
Music to learn in Jhalavarali
Jhalavarali 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 Jhalavarali
What is the Jhalavarali raga?
Jhalavarali is melakarta number 39 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3.
What are the janya ragas of Jhalavarali?
Its well-known child ragas include Varali.