Chords for Songs, Scales, Indian Raga

Ragas from each mode of the major scale

Let us use C major scale notes for finding the swaras in each mode of the major scale.

First mode – Ionian – the major scale

C major scale : C D E F G A B C

Swaras and notes starting from C

C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2

Swaras for each note in the major scale:

C D E F G A B

Sa Ri2 Ga3 Ma1 Pa Dha2 Ni3

The major scale notes correspond to the swaras of Raga Shankarabharanam.

Second mode – Dorian

The second mode of the C major scale starts from the second note (D) of the C major
scale. The dorian mode of the C major scale uses the exact same notes as the major
scale, though from a different starting point.
D dorian scale : D E F G A B C D

Swaras and notes starting from D

D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C C#

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2
Chords for Songs, Scales, Indian Raga

Swaras for each note of the Dorian scale starting from D:

D E F G A B C

Sa Ri2 Ga2 Ma1 Pa Dha2 Ni2

The notes of the dorian scale, which is the 2nd mode of the major scale, correspond to
the swaras of Raga Kharaharapriya.

Third mode – Phrygian

Phrygian mode of the C major scale starts from the note E. It has the same notes as the
C major scale, but starts from E instead of C.
E phrygian scale : E F G A B C D E

Swaras and notes starting from E

E F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D#

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2

Swaras for each note of the Phrygian scale starting from E:

E F G A B C D

Sa Ri1 Ga2 Ma1 Pa Dha1 Ni2

The swaras of the phrygian mode correspond to that of Raga Hanumatodi.

Fourth mode – Lydian

Lydian mode of the C major scale starts from the note F. It has the same notes as the C
major scale, but starts from F, the 4th note of the C major scale.
F lydian scale : F G A B C D E F

Swaras and notes starting from F

Chords for Songs, Scales, Indian Raga

F F# G G# A A# B C C# D D# E

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2

Swaras for each note of the Lydian scale starting from F:

F G A B C D E

Sa Ri2 Ga3 Ma2 Pa Dha2 Ni3

Swaras corresponding to the notes of the Lydian scale are that of the Raga Kalyani.

Fifth mode – Mixolydian

Mixolydian mode of the C major scale starts from the note G. It has the same notes as
the C major scale, but starts from G, the 5th note of the C major scale.
G mixolydian scale : G A B C D E F G

Swaras and notes starting from G

G G# A A# B C C# D D# E F F#

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2

Swaras for each note of the Mixolydian scale starting from G:

G A B C D E F

Sa Ri2 Ga3 Ma1 Pa Dha2 Ni2

Swaras corresponding to the notes of the Mixolydian scale are that of the Raga
Harikamboji.
Chords for Songs, Scales, Indian Raga

Sixth mode – Aeolian (natural minor scale)

Aeolian mode, the 6th mode of the C major scale starts from the 6th note A of the C
major scale. It has the same notes as the C major scale, but starts from note A instead of
note C.
A aeolian scale : A B C D E F G A

Swaras and notes starting from A

A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#

Sa Ri1 Ri2/ Ri3/ Ga3 Ma1 Ma2 Pa Dha1 Dha2/ Dha3/ Ni3
Ga1 Ga2 Ni1 Ni2

Swaras for each note of the Aeolian scale starting from A:

A B C D E F G

Sa Ri2 Ga2 Ma1 Pa Dha1 Ni2

Swaras corresponding to the notes of the Mixolydian scale are that of the Raga
Natabhairavi.

Summary: Ragas corresponding to each mode of the

major scale:
1. Raga shankara bharanam - ionian (major scale)
2. Raga kharaharapriya - dorian
3. Raga hanumatodi - phrygian
4. Raga kalyani - lydian
5. Raga harikamboji - mixolydian
6. Raga natabhairavi - aeolian
7. (locrian scale without pa - not a melakarta raga)