Melakarta 55 · Disi chakra · M2 · vivadi
Shamalangi
श्यामलाङ्गी
Shamalangi is the 55th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N1.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Shamalangi, 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, Shamalangi is built from a major second, a minor third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a diminished seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N1; in Hindustani sargam, S R g M' P d D.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R2 | major second (M2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N1 | diminished seventh (d7) |
How Shamalangi harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Shamalangi 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
- Vsus2 Gsus2 suspended seconddominant
- VII· Bbb(cluster) clusterdominant
- II♭5 D(b5) major flat fivepredominant
- IV· F#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- VI Ab majorcolour
- III♭5 Eb(b5) major flat fivecolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Shamalangi
Shamalangi 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 Shamalangi
What is the Shamalangi raga?
Shamalangi is melakarta number 55 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N1.
What are the janya ragas of Shamalangi?
Shamalangi is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.