Basics/ Introduction
We will be using tux guitar, a free notation and guitar tab software that allows us to show and playback notation, chords, along with the lyrics or swaras. Get Tux guitar. See a few usage instructions. We can see the chord notes as standard notation, in the chords track – useful for any instrument. We can listen to how the chords sound along with the melody, while noting the chord notes used, the melody notes etc in notation and tab format.
Naming conventions – Big small and one more – pdf
Introduction to music theory – Intervals, tone – semitone, major and minor scales
Finding the pitch of a song vs Fixing the pitch of a song
Ragas and scales
Finding the scale of a raga – starting point
How to transpose – use the chords for any pitch or root of your choice
Click to Download:Transposing-Chart-and-Excel-Sheet + How to use.zip
Resources that will help you understand and harmonize ragas will be added to this page constantly, which will remain available to you whenever you wish to access.
Click to see update May 18
Scales and notes from raga movements
(Right click and save each link) The videos show raga and related scale played on the guitar fretboard illustrate the usage of scale notes to play the raga.
Ragas based on Raga Shankarabharanam (the major scale)
Raga Shankarabharanam and The major scale (video) See the articles below on using major scale chords, to use chords on Raga Shankarabharanam. (added Apr 29 2013)
Raga Mohanam– major pentatonic
Raga Suddhasaveri
Raga Hamsadhwani – 5 note scale (Sa Ri Ga Pa Ni Sa) (added Apr 30 2013)
Raga Bilahari (added Apr 30 2013)
Raga Neelambari
Raga Kalyani (Lydian mode of major scale) (added Apr 30 2013)
Ragas based on the minor scale
Kharaharapriya (Dorian minor scale)
Keeravani (Harmonic minor)
Anandabhairavi (derived from Dorian)
Kanada (Dorian derivative)
Chandrakauns (Harmonic minor derivative)
Scales/Chords
The chords of major scale and minor scale
Chords for Ragas Shankarabharanam, Kharaharapriya, Hanumatodi, Kalyani, Harikamboji, Natabhairavi (Overview)
Ragas from each mode of the major scale
Chords for ragas using the mode relationship
Chords using exact scale notes
Understanding Mayamalavagowla + chords for MayaMalavaGowla from the scale notes
Janyas of Raga Shankarabharanam
Using chords of the major scale for Janyas of Shankarabharana – Raga Hamsadhwani Part 1
Chords for Mohanam and Bilahari
Chords for Geetams
Malahari
Chords for Geetams in Any Pitch
(Click on a link below, use the drop downs in the pages to choose your pitch)
Minor and major chords for Mayamalavagowla + example using Padumanabha
Padumanabha full chord sheet (pdf)
Padumanabha – wider format to play without scrolling (jpg)
Sreegananatha (Lambodara) full chord sheet (pdf)
Kundagoura full chord sheet (pdf)
Kerayaneeranu full chord sheet (pdf)
Geethams based on the major scale
Suddha Saveri – Analekara – full chord sheet (pdf)
Mohanam – Varaveena – full chord sheet (pdf)
Flat nine scales
Chakravakam (Mixolydian flat nine )
Song Sugunamule Raga Chakravakam in Tux guitar format (get Tuxguitar for free to view the notes and to listen to the file. this file lets you see the notes, play them as they move through the notes. Tuxguitar is free and includes guitar tabs if useful.)
Explanation of chords for Chakravakam + chords for Sugunamule (pdf)
Chords for Raga Nattai
Raga Nattai: S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S (Root – Min3 – Maj3 – 4th – 5th – Min7 – Maj7 – Octave)
Chords for Raaga Naatai – Introduction (pdf)
Chords for Raaga Naatai – Swara pairs (pdf)
Raga Chalanattai and Nattai Ascend and Descend (tuxguitar file)
Raga Nattai Phrase 01 – chord pairs with chords (tuxguitar file) (with chord names, melody notation, swaras and a chord track)
Raga Nattai Phrase 02 – vamadeva with chords (tuxguitar file)
Chords for songs
How to play chords for MOST songs
songs based on the major and minor scale
trying out the diatonic chords for each part of the song
the three notes in each chord of the major scale
3 chords for each note of the major scale
finding the note on the phrase
which note to base the chords on
frequency of chords
where to change chords
How find chords for any scale, song or phrase
start with alternate notes
find the note 2,3,4 notes away
add m3 to the front and back of M3 interval
add M3 to front and back of m3 interval
the 4 note gap – add m3 or M3 to the second note
Chords for ragas/scales
How find chords for any scale – more scales
Using exact chords for any song/scale/raga
Using just the triad minor and major to play chords for ANY song/scale/raga
Chords for ragas based on the major scale
How to play chords for a large number of songs and ragas using the major and minor scale diatonic chords
The long list of ragas you can play chords for using just the major scale diatonic chords.
The major scale raga – Raga Shankarabharanam and its janyas
Chords for ragas based on the minor scale
Chords for each swara of minor scale / natabhairavi and keeravani
Chords for jayanthashri
Chords for hindolam
Chords for modes of major scale
Chords for Kalyani
Chords for Kharaharapriya
Chords for mayamalavagowla and malahari geetams
Chosen few
Nattai
Charukesi
Chakravakam