In this post we’ll take a look at Melakarta #45 – Shubhapantuvarali (that’s shoo-bop pahn-too-vah-rahlly….no really!). “Shubhap” (for short) has the same tonal DNA as another Melakarta, namely, #36 – Chalanata, which is the subject of an earlier post. It might be helpful to check that out for some pertinent background info, as well as any of the other posts in this category (hey, why not? – they’re FreeB’s). Due to the process known as graha bedham, which changes the śruti, or tonic, of a scale (Melakarta) to a different note within that scale, Melas #36 and #45 have the same … Read More
Category Archives: Carnatic Music
Let’s take a look at a very hip sounding scale, Melakarta #31, known as Yagapriya. As you can see on the keyboard graphic to the left, Yagapriya has an unusual interval makeup: 1 1/2 steps – half step – half step – whole step – half step – half step – 1 1/2 steps The interval scheme of the second four notes (tetrachord) is the reverse (mirror image) of the first four notes, separated by a whole step.Yagapriya can also be thought of, in western terms, as 4 triads: (In C) C Maj., C min., F Maj., & F min. … Read More