Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Melakarta 46 · Vasu chakra · M2

Shadvidamargini

षड्विधमार्गिणी

Shadvidamargini is the 46th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N2.

SrgM'PDn
Hear Shadvidamarginichoose your Sa, then play
S1
R1m2
G2m3
M2A4
PP5
D2M6
N2m7
S'8
Open in the 3D sphere →

Hear it from musicians

Signature phrases for Shadvidamargini, 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, Shadvidamargini is built from a minor second, a minor third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S r g M' P D n.

DegreeSwaraInterval
1Sunison (1)
2R1minor second (m2)
3G2minor third (m3)
4M2augmented fourth (A4)
5Pperfect fifth (P5)
6D2major sixth (M6)
7N2minor seventh (m7)

How Shadvidamargini harmonizes

Stack thirds on each note of Shadvidamargini 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
  • Gdim diminisheddominant
  • vii♯5 Bbm(#5) minor sharp fivedominant
  • iv° F#dim diminishedpredominant
  • II· Dbsus4(#5) suspended sharp fivepredominant
  • III Eb majorcolour
  • vi° Adim diminishedcolour

Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.

Music to learn in Shadvidamargini

Shadvidamargini 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.

Open Shadvidamargini in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Shadvidamargini

What is the Shadvidamargini raga?

Shadvidamargini is melakarta number 46 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N2.

What are the janya ragas of Shadvidamargini?

Shadvidamargini is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.