Melakarta 47 · Vasu chakra · M2
Suvarnangi
सुवर्णाङ्गी
Suvarnangi is the 47th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N3.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Suvarnangi, 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, Suvarnangi is built from a minor second, a minor third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N3; 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 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Suvarnangi harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Suvarnangi 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
- VIIsus2 Bsus2 suspended seconddominant
- V♭5 G(b5) major flat fivedominant
- iv° F#dim diminishedpredominant
- II· Dbsus4(#5) suspended sharp fivepredominant
- vi° Adim diminishedcolour
- III+ Ebaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Suvarnangi
Suvarnangi 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 Suvarnangi
What is the Suvarnangi raga?
Suvarnangi is melakarta number 47 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N3.
What are the janya ragas of Suvarnangi?
Suvarnangi is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.