We can talk about chords in terms of Indian notation, especially when talking about chords for ragas.

Talk about major seventh note as the big Ni or the N3, and the major seventh chord spelling as S, big Ga, Pa and N3.

Using big Ga and N3 together, as above, is a mixture of notation, the first from the big/small system of referring to notes, while N3 comes from the karnatik notation. But as long as they serve the purpose … (Indian notation – 2 and 3 note systems)

Below i have listed the spelling of 13 frequently used chords in the big/small notation and also in carnatic notation.

The major chord

Western notation: root – major 3rd – fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – G3 – Pa
Big / small system: Sa – big Ga – Pa

The minor chord

Western notation: root – minor 3rd – fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – G2 – Pa
Big / small system: Sa – small Ga – Pa

The diminished chord

Western notation: root – minor 3rd – flat fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – G2 – M2
Big / small system: Sa – small Ga – Big Ma

The augmented chord

Western notation: root – major 3rd – sharp fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – G3 – D1
Big / small system: Sa – big Ga – small Dha

The dominant seventh chord (seventh chord)

Western notation: root – major 3rd – fifth – minor seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G3 – Pa – N2
Big / small system: Sa – big Ga – Pa – small Ni

The minor seventh chord

Western notation: root – minor 3rd – fifth – minor seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G2 – Pa – N2
Big / small system: Sa – small Ga – Pa – small Ni

The major seventh chord

Western notation: root – major 3rd – fifth – major seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G3 – Pa – N3
Big / small system: Sa – big Ga – Pa – big Ni

The minor major seventh chord

Western notation: root – minor 3rd – fifth – major seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G2 – Pa – N3
Big / small system: Sa – small Ga – Pa – big Ni

The sus 4 chord

Western notation: root – perfect 4th – fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – M1 – Pa
Big / small system: Sa – small Ma – Pa

The sus 2 chord

Western notation: root – major 2nd – fifth
Carnatic notation: Sa – R2 – Pa
Big / small system: Sa – big Ri – Pa

The 7sus4th chord

Western notation: root – perfect 4th – fifth – minor 7th
Carnatic notation: Sa – M1 – Pa – N2
Big / small system: Sa – small Ma – Pa – small Ni

The minor seventh flat five chord (half diminished seventh)

Western notation: root – minor 3rd – flat fifth – minor seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G2 – M2 – N2
Big / small system: Sa – small Ga – big Ma – small Ni

Lydian augmented chord (Δ#4#5)

Western notation: root – major 3rd – sharp fourth – sharp fifth – major seventh
Carnatic notation: Sa – G3 – M2 – D1 – N3
Big / small system: Sa – big Ga – big Ma – small Dha – big Ni

More about Lydian augmented and other advanced chords

For a complete easy to grasp resource on understanding and using chords, see The Chord Code

Based on the above, you can work out any other chord in terms of Indian notation.

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