Melakarta 69 · Aditya chakra · M2 · vivadi
Dhatuvardhini
धातुवर्धिनी
Dhatuvardhini is the 69th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R3 G3 M2 P D1 N3.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Dhatuvardhini, 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, Dhatuvardhini is built from a augmented second, a major third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R3 G3 M2 P D1 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S g G M' P d N.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R3 | augmented second (A2) |
| 3 | G3 | major third (M3) |
| 4 | M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Dhatuvardhini harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Dhatuvardhini 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
- VII B majordominant
- V+ Gaug augmenteddominant
- II· D#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- IV· F#(cluster) clusterpredominant
- iii Em minorcolour
- VI+ Abaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Dhatuvardhini
Dhatuvardhini 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 Dhatuvardhini
What is the Dhatuvardhini raga?
Dhatuvardhini is melakarta number 69 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R3 G3 M2 P D1 N3.
What are the janya ragas of Dhatuvardhini?
Dhatuvardhini is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.