Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Melakarta 70 · Aditya chakra · M2 · vivadi

Nasikabhushani

नासिकाभूषणी

Nasikabhushani is the 70th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R3 G3 M2 P D2 N2.

SgGM'PDn
Hear Nasikabhushanichoose your Sa, then play
S1
R3A2
G3M3
M2A4
PP5
D2M6
N2m7
S'8
Open in the 3D sphere →

Hear it from musicians

Signature phrases for Nasikabhushani, 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, Nasikabhushani is built from a augmented second, a major third, a augmented fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R3 G3 M2 P D2 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S g G M' P D n.

DegreeSwaraInterval
1Sunison (1)
2R3augmented second (A2)
3G3major third (M3)
4M2augmented fourth (A4)
5Pperfect fifth (P5)
6D2major sixth (M6)
7N2minor seventh (m7)

How Nasikabhushani harmonizes

Stack thirds on each note of Nasikabhushani 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♯5 Gm(#5) minor sharp fivedominant
  • VII· Bbsus4(#5) suspended sharp fivedominant
  • ii° D#dim diminishedpredominant
  • iv° F#dim diminishedpredominant
  • vi Am minorcolour
  • iii° Edim diminishedcolour

Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.

Music to learn in Nasikabhushani

Nasikabhushani 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.

Open Nasikabhushani in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Nasikabhushani

What is the Nasikabhushani raga?

Nasikabhushani is melakarta number 70 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R3 G3 M2 P D2 N2.

What are the janya ragas of Nasikabhushani?

Nasikabhushani is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.