Shanmukhapriya

Hear it from musicians

Signature phrases for Shanmukhapriya, 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, Shanmukhapriya is built from a major second, a minor third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S R g M' P d n.

How Shanmukhapriya harmonizes

Stack thirds on each note of Shanmukhapriya and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.

• i Gm minorhome
• v Dm minordominant
• VII+ Faug augmenteddominant
• II♭5 A(b5) major flat fivepredominant
• IVsus2♭5 C#sus2(b5) suspended second flat fivepredominant
• III Bb majorcolour
• VI Eb majorcolour

Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.

Janya ragas of Shanmukhapriya

These child ragas are born from Shanmukhapriya by dropping notes or bending the path: Sumanesaranjani. 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.

Music to learn in Shanmukhapriya

• Siddhi Vinayakam · Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Mahasuram Ketum Aham · Muthuswami Dikshitar

Notated to play along

Each opens in Stage mode on a real staff, with the sung syllables under the notes. Loop it, change Sa, and play or sing along.

• Vaddanevaru Leru · Tyagaraja · Adi tala
• Palu Vicharamulela · Annamacharya, tuned by Nedunuri Krishnamurthy · Khanda chapu
• Mamava Karunaya · Swati Tirunal · Misra chapu