Melakarta 44 · Vasu chakra · M2
Bhavapriya
भवप्रिया
Bhavapriya is the 44th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N2.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Bhavapriya, 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, Bhavapriya is built from a minor second, a minor third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S r g M' P d n.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R1 | minor second (m2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Bhavapriya harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Bhavapriya 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
- v° Gdim diminisheddominant
- vii♯5 Bbm(#5) minor sharp fivedominant
- IIsus4 Dbsus4 suspended fourthpredominant
- IV· F#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- III Eb majorcolour
- VI Ab majorcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Bhavapriya
Bhavapriya 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 Bhavapriya
What is the Bhavapriya raga?
Bhavapriya is melakarta number 44 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N2.
What are the janya ragas of Bhavapriya?
Bhavapriya is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.