Melakarta 9 · Netra chakra · M1
Dhenuka
धेनुका
Dhenuka is the 9th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3 — the Western Neapolitan minor.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Dhenuka, 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, Dhenuka is built from a minor second, a minor third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S r g m P d N.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R1 | minor second (m2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Dhenuka harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Dhenuka 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
- V♭5 G(b5) major flat fivedominant
- VII· B(cluster) clusterdominant
- II Db majorpredominant
- iv Fm minorpredominant
- VI Ab majorcolour
- III+ Ebaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Dhenuka
Dhenuka 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 Dhenuka
What is the Dhenuka raga?
Dhenuka is melakarta number 9 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3, which is the Western Neapolitan minor.
Is Dhenuka the same as the Western Neapolitan minor?
Yes. Dhenuka has exactly the same seven notes as the Neapolitan minor, so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are the janya ragas of Dhenuka?
Dhenuka is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.