Melakarta 64 · Rudra chakra · M2
Vachaspati
वाचस्पति
Vachaspati is the 64th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2 — the Western Lydian dominant (acoustic scale).
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Vachaspati, 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, Vachaspati is built from a major second, a major third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S R G M' P D n.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R2 | major second (M2) |
| 3 | G3 | major third (M3) |
| 4 | M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Vachaspati harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Vachaspati and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- I C majorhome
- v Gm minordominant
- VII+ Bbaug augmenteddominant
- II D majorpredominant
- iv° F#dim diminishedpredominant
- vi Am minorcolour
- iii° Edim diminishedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Vachaspati
Vachaspati 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 Vachaspati
What is the Vachaspati raga?
Vachaspati is melakarta number 64 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2, which is the Western Lydian dominant (acoustic scale).
Is Vachaspati the same as the Western Lydian dominant (acoustic scale)?
Yes. Vachaspati has exactly the same seven notes as the Lydian dominant (acoustic scale), so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are the janya ragas of Vachaspati?
Vachaspati is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.