Chords for raga scale song

C (root) D (major 2nd) E (major 3rd) G(fifth) B (major Swaras and notes of Raga 7th) C (root) Hamsadhwani Hamsadhwani raga as a chord ārohaṇa (ascending): S R2 G3 P N3 S The scale has a major third (G3) and a major seventh (descending): S N3 P G3 R2 S (N3) note.

Along with Sa and Pa (1st and 5th), this gives us a major The Hamsadhwani scale has the same notes as a major 7th chord (1 – major 3rd – 5th – major 7th) scale, except that the 4th and 6th notes in the major scale Remaining note in the scale is a major 2nd note (R2). are not used when playing Hamsadhwani.

Adding a major 2nd note to major 7th chord gives us a Just five notes in an octave of the scale, which makes major 9th chord. Hamsadhwani a (5 note scale).

th – Intervals So, if you play the D major 9 chord, you are playing all the notes of Hamsadhwani starting from D as the Sa. Hamsadhwani has the notes : S R2 G3 P N3 S X hamsadhwani scale = X major 9th chord Root – major 2nd – major 3rd – 5th – major 7th – root The basic chord progression for If you want to play hamsadhwani starting from note C, these are the notes: major scale

Chords for raga scale song

The C major scale has the notes : CDEFGABC If some notes which are not in the chord are played Taking alternate notes from C : CEG gives us C major against the chord, the final sound will be that of a chord chord with notes added to the basic triad – major 7ths, 6th, Similarly taking alternative notes from D : DFA gives us minor 7th etc. where the triad is played on the D minor chord instrument while the extra 4th note is sung or played on Doing this for all the notes in the C major scale gives us the lead instrument. the following chords. Since Hamsadhwani is derived from the major scale, C major – D minor – E minor – F major – G major – A you can use all the chords of major scale to harmonize minor – B diminished hamsadhwani. Though some notes (4th and 6th) of the major scale and hence the chords of major scale are These are called the diatonic chords of C major scale. If missing in hamsadhwani, the overall sound will still be you play these chords against the notes of C major scale, fine. You can choose the final sound according to your you are safe because the chords were formed using the taste – avoid chords or include chords as you need, from notes of major scale, in the first place. the basic diatonic chord harmony.

If you play the chords against melody notes which are Other chords from major scale already present in the chord, the chord will sound The major scale notes can be arranged in any order you absolutely correct for the notes. wish to form triads and other chords to make chords that suit the major scale and hamsadhwani.

Chords for raga scale song

For example. You can play the sus2 chord if you are Harmony for phrases of staying on the 2nd note. The sus 2 chord has the notes : root – major 2 – fifth, all of which are part of the major Hamsadhwani scale. Phrase Example One |G , , , G , , R | SRG , , , , R| NRNR G , , R| NRNP …. Playing the the sus 2 chord when Ri or major 2nd is sung, keeps the root sounding while the major 2nd note in the Each alphabet and comma is of a sixteenth note chord gives support for the major 2nd being sung. duration.

We will find more chords that suit particular phrases Let us consider playing the above phrase on further on. Hamsadhwani with D as the root. Then the swara to note relation will look like this:

Example chords for swaras S R Ga P N of D hamsadhwani D E F# A C#

Swara/Note Sa/D Ri/E Ga/F# P/A Ni/C# Each of the swara phrases can be rewritten as note Chords 01 D Em F#m A DM7 phrases :

Chords 02 Bm A Bm A7 A (G G R) = (F# F# E) (S R G R) = ( D E F# E) (N R N R G R) = (C# E C# E F# E) (N R N P) = (C# E C# A)

Chords for raga scale song

To find out the chords, Phrase by phrase 1. Find which notes are used in the phrase 2. Try to find out which chords from the list of Part 1. (G G R) = (F# F# E) chords for D Hamsadhwani has similar notes or note patterns (when using an instrument, looking at the patterns of notes to match them with the pattern of chords is essential) There are just two notes in the selection. 3. Make modifications to the triad chords if needed – Any chord with both of the notes will be alright with the add a new note or change one to make the chord fit the particular phrase. This could give a more phrase. apt sound or a new feel to add interest.

We will take the chords of one of the notes and add the The list of chords for Hamsadhwani other note. Then do the same starting with the second Since hamsadhwani has same notes as the major scale, note. we decide to use the diatonic chords of D major scale as the starting point in finding chords for D hamsadhwani. This is a very analytical way of covering the whole

possibilities. We will do it for this phrase. With the Chords for D hamsadhani : remaining ones, we will try making choices in a simpler D Em F#m G A Bm C#dim way.

The note F# is present in the following chords :

D, F#m, Bm (see list of chords above)

Chords for raga scale song

Adding the other note in the phrase (E), to the above D, F#m, Bm, E minor, A, C#dim – 3 note chords chords gives D chord + E  D added 9th, D added 9th, F#m7, B sus 4th, Eminor added 9th, F#m + E  F#m7 A6, C# dim/ F# - 4 note chords Bm + E B sus 4th (In the case of Bm, you may skip the D note while The phrase GGR has G in the beginning and stays on the playing E, though nowadays sus4th chords are found G for 2/3rd of the phrase. Out of the possible options, it with both 3rd and 4th notes.) may be a good choice to play a chord that belongs to Ga.

The note E is present in the following chords : Let us examine the remaining 3 parts of the phrase. Now E minor, A, C#dim let us just stick to finding more obvious chords. We can use just triads and seventh chords but still make the Adding the other note in the phrase, F#, to the above phrase interesting by the way we arrange them between chords gives each other. Eminor + F#  Eminor added 9th A + F#  A6 2. S R G R

C# dim + F#  C# dim/ F# D major chord is the most obvious chord to play for this phrase starting with Sa. D major has both Sa and Ri in it From the above exercise, here is the list of chords one (D and F# notes are Sa and Ga when D is the root). If could use for part 1: you want to include the Ri (E note), we get D added 9th (D F# A E)

Chords for raga scale song

4.NRNP B minor is another quick option since the chord has both The notes are C# E A (Ni Ri Pa) D and F# (Sa and Ga). A major is the most obvious chord.

You can change the chord depending on which note or 3.NRNRGR chord you are going from here on to the next phrase.

The notes are : C# E F# (Ni Ri Ga) Chord for the whole phrase |G , , , G , , R | SRG , , , , R| NRNR G , , R| NRNP ….

A6th chord has all the above notes. (A C# E F#) Which chords to play from the possible options? F#7 has all the above notes too. (F# A# C# E) We will choose the final progression based on what sounds good for the whole phrase and the phrases But how does F# major come into D major scale before and after. harmony? D major scale has F#minor, not major in it, leave alone the dominant 7th chord of F#. For example here are two chord progressions we could play : F#7 chord, with its tension, could add some interest into 1. |F#m|D|F7|A| or the phrase in place of a pleasant chord like A6. In fact 2. |D |F#m|F7|A| - this could be interesting because of the change from F#minor to F#7 (major A6th has the same notes as F#m7, the F# chord we chord in its seventh form) should have used if following D major harmony exactly.