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Chords for songs scales ragas

Raga Bhairav Raaga Bhairav has the same swara or note positions as the 15th Carnatic melakarta Raaga Mayamalavagoula. Raga Bhairav has the same scale notes as the western Double Harmonic major scale. The double harmonic major scale has all the notes as the major scale with the 2nd and 6th notes flattened (reduced by one note - the shuddh notes become komal). Raga Bhairav swaras be written as S r G M P d N, where:

‘r’ represents the komal ri, minor 2nd interval

‘d’ represents the komal dha, minor 6th interval

G M N are shuddh Ga Ma and Ni respectively (major 3rd, perfect 4th, major 7th)

P represents Pa, the 5th note.

The notes / swaras / intervals

Swaras

Carnatic: Sa Ri1 Ga3 Ma1 Pa Dha1 Ni3 Sa Hindustani: All swaras shuddh except Ri and Dha.

Notes

When C is the root: C Db E F G Ab B C When D is the root: D Eb F# G A Bb C# D etc...

Intervals

Root - minor 2nd - major 3rd - perfect 4th - perfect 5th - minor 6th - major 7th - octave

Detailed ascend and descend patterns Aroha: 'N S G M P G M, P G M (N)d, G M (N)d, (N)d N S' Avroha: N S' (N)d N d P, P G M P G M (G)r S

Note: Please see all the Videos and Image files (zip) here. The videos playback and show each chord – melody that we analyze. The zip file gives images in the original dimensions as I made it, before any resizing. Links to each video is also given at the appropriate sections.

http://musicianself.com/how-to-play-chords-any-indian-raga-song-scale/rraga-bhairav-chord-resource-videos/


Chords based on Arohana Avarohana of Raga

Bhairav

Raaga Bhairav arohana: 'N S G M P G M, P G M (N)d, G M (N)d, (N)d N S'

'Ni Sa Ga Ma Pa Ga Ma

Notes: B C E F G E F The FM7add9 chord (notes: F A C E G) has F,E,C and G notes from the phrase. The CM7add11 chord (notes: C E G B F) has the notes B C E F G from the phrase, therefore being a chord that has all the phrase notes. The notes C F G gives the Csus4th chord. The Em add b9 chord (E minor added flat ninth chord notes: E G B F) has 4 of the notes.

Pa Ga Ma (Ni)dha G M (N)d

Notes: G, E F B Ab, E F B Ab The F dim Chord (notes: F Ab B) has three of the notes in the phrase The E add b9 chord (E added flat ninth chord notes: E Ab B F) has 4 of the notes in the phrase The Em add b9 chord (E minor added flat ninth chord notes: E G B F) also has 4 of the notes.

(N)d N S'

Notes: B Ab B C The E major chord (notes: E Ab B) has two of the notes in the phrase, plus the Ga note within the scale Use the C major chord for the Sa note C. The F minor chord (notes: F Ab C) has two of the phrase notes and the Ma note F.


Chords for Raga Bhairav Arohana Phrase

See: Video-01-bhairav-aroh 'N S G M P G M, P G M (N)d, G M (N)d, (N)d N S’

Raga Bhairav Avarohana: N S' (N)d N d P, P G M P G M (G)r S

See Video-02-bhairav-avaroh N S' (N)d N d P, P G M P G M (G)r S

http://musicianself.com/how-to-play-chords-any-indian-raga-song-scale/rraga-bhairav-chord-resource-videos/#01



Raga Bhairav Phrases

G M P G M (G)r, S

GMPGMG part has same notes as a major scale - Major 3rd (Ga3), perfect 4th (Ma1) and Pa. The difference comes with the Ri ('r'), since Raga Bhairav has the small Ri/ R1 (Komal Ri)/ minor 2nd while the major scale has a Shuddh Ri/R2/major 2nd.

G M (N)d, d, P

See: Video-03-bhairav phrase - G M P G M G r S G M N d d P

G M (n)d, (n)d, P, P G M (G)r, S

The small Ni, minor 7th note, Komal Ni is not a part of the Bhairav raaga usually, but in this phrase, the dha note is arrived to from the komal ni note.

G M

Notes: E F The FM7 chord (notes: F A C E) is a possibility.

(n) d

Notes: Bb A# The Bb7 chord (notes: Bb D F Ab) is a possibility, with all notes except the D note within the raga.



The Bbm7 chord (notes: Bb Db F Ab) has all the notes of the phrase and within the raga. The Db6 chord (notes: Db F Ab Bb) is another chord with all the phrase notes.

P

The Em chord, the C major chord

P G M

PM (notes: GF) gives us the option of the Csus4 chord (notes: CFG).

(G)r

'r' the R1 note, minor 2nd note. Db note when C is the root. The Db major chord (notes:Db F Ab) is an option with all notes within raga. The A#m chord (notes: A# Db F) is another option with the Db note, though the A# note is not within the strict raga notes.

S

The C major chord.

See Video-04-bhairav phrase G M (n)d, (n)d, P, P G M (G)r, S The video uses some of the chord options in one possible way. You can find your own ways of arranging the chords, following the basic logic.

Version: G M (N)d, (N)d, P, P G M (G)r, S

If the same phrase had 'N' - the shuddh Nishad, major 7th note, the chords for the n-d part will change.



(N)d

Notes: B Ab The E major chord (notes: E G# B) has both the notes of the phrase and all the notes are within the raga. The Db6 chord above will become Db7 chord (notes:Db F Ab B) when the Bb note is changed to a B note.

See Video-05-bhairav phrase G M (N) d (N) d P P G M (G) r S

G M (N)d, (N)d N S”, N S” (N)d N d P

The phrase in terms of notes when C is the root, Sa: E F B Ab, B Ab B C, B C B Ab G

For this example, let us decide to split the big phrase into small phrases as shown

below:

G M (N)

Notes: E F B

For this example, as shown in the picture below, we have decided to play the C#7 chord

(notes: C# F Ab B) over this three note phrase.

The C#7 chord has the F and B notes from the phrase, while the E note is not included.

As long as the E note doesn’t clash with the chord, it is alright.



The notes C# and Ab which are not in the phrase, are notes included in the Bhairav

scale. In fact the Ab note is the beginning note of the next phrase.

You can try other chords too, which have any two or all of the notes in the phrase.

For example, try the FMajor7 chord (notes: F A C E) which has two of the phrase notes

– E and F – in the chord.

To include the B note from the phrase, into the FM7 chord, we just need to the flatten

the C note and play the B note, making the chord notes: F A B E. Since the C note is the

5th note of the FM7 chord, by flattening it we are playing the FM7b5 chord (F major

seventh flat five).

The notes E and B are found in the E minor chord (notes: E G B) which has the extra

note G, which is the Pa note of the Bhairav scale and therefore within the scale. Try the

chord, listen if the F note of the phrase sounds fine with the E minor chord.

d, (N)d

Notes: Ab B Ab

We have decided to play the E major chord (notes: E Ab B) over the phrase. The chord

has both the notes from the phrase. The E note which is not in the phrase is part of the

Bhairav Raga.

N S”,

Notes: B C

We have decided to play

the G major chord over the B note and

the C major chord over the C note

It is a V to I movement of chords, giving a complete resolution to the chord movement.

If we just need one chord with both the B and C notes, the C major 7th chord (notes: C E

G B) would be an obvious option, with all its notes within the Raga Bhairav scale.

N S” (N)

Notes: B C B

Again, the C major 7th chord is an obvious choice.


We have decided to play the G# minor chord (notes: G# B D#) which has the B note

from the phrase in it. The G# note is within the scale or Raga Bhairav, while the D# note

is not.

Try the chord and decide to play it if you feel the sound matches your needs.

d N d

Notes: Ab B Ab

The E major chord (notes: E Ab B) has been used over the phrase, similar to what was

done when d N d appeared before in the phrase.

P

Note: G

The E minor chord (Notes: E G B) has been used.

You can use the C major chord or try any chord with the G note in it.

See Video-06-bhairav phrase - G M (N)d, (N)d N S”, N S” (N)d N d P



S G M P G M, G M (G)r, S r G M P

S G M P G M

When C is the root, the notes: C E F G E F

The phrase has 4 notes: C E F and G

The notes F A C E forms the F Major 7th chord. Adding the G note gives us the FM9th (F

major 9th)chord. Please note that in the chord/ melody image given below, and in the

video, the chord name has been written as FM7 add 9th. I have left it that way since in

some places, the chord got by adding the 9th note to the Major 7th note is called the

FM7add9th, although, since the chord has the 7th and 9th notes in it, you don’t need to

call it ‘add 9th’; FM9th will do.

G M (G)r

Notes: E F E Db

The C# major chord (notes: C# F G#) has the notes F and Db (the same note as C#) from

the phrase. The E note has not been included in the chord.

If you choose to play the notes C# E and G#, the resulting chord is the C# minor chord.

You may try this chord too over the phrase.

S r G M P

Notes: C Db E F G

The C#M7 chord (notes: C# F G# C) can be used for the C and Db notes.

The FM7 chord (notes: FACE) can be used for the E and F notes.

The C minor chord (C Eb G) has been used in the example below, for the G note,

although the Eb is not in the Bhairav scale. You may even try Gm or Em chords for the

Pa note (note:G) and decide a chord based on the sound you like. Strictly by the scale, if

you wanted a minor or major chord for the Pa, the C major would be the chord, since G

major or minor which would be the chord from the note G, doesn’t exist in the scale of

C Bhairav.


See Video-07-bhairav phrase - S G M P G M, G M (G)r, S r G M P

Another set of example chords for the same phrase: S G M P G M, G M (G)r, S r G M P

Below is a version of the chords as discussed above, with slight variations, just to show

how modifications can be made while using very similar chords.



Swaras: SGMP (notes:C E F G) – Chord used FM9th (written as Fmaj7add9 with bass A in

the picture) All the phrase notes are in the chord.

Swaras: GM (notes:E F) – I have chosen to play the CM7 chord (notes: C E G B) which

has the E note in it from the phrase, and all other chord notes from within the Bhairav

scale. The F note from the phrase is not accounted for in the chord. Listen and if you feel

the chord suits the phrase, use it.

Swaras:G M (notes: E F) – Chord used: FM7 (notes:FACE) has both the notes from the

phrase. The A note in the chord is not part of Bhairav scale, but if it doesn’t clash with

any of the melody notes, one could use it.

Swaras: Gr (notes: E Db)– Chord used: C# major (notes: C# F G#) has the Db note (C#

note) in it along with F and G# notes which are part of the Bhairav scale. The note E

from the melody phrase has not been accounted for.

Swaras: Sr (notes: C Db) – Chord used: C# maj 7th (notes: C# F G# C) has both C and Db

(same as C#) notes from the phrase in the chord. F and G# notes of the chord are from

within the Bhairav scale.


Swaras: GM (notes: EF)– Chord used: G7 (notes: G B D F) Only the F note from the

melody is part of the chord. The G note from the chord is part of the Bhairav scale, but B

and D are not. If you find the sound of the chord to suit the phrase, use it. The main

reason I have used that chord is because the G7 will serve as the V7 chord for the next

chord Cm used for the next swara Pa.

Swara: Pa (note: G) – Chord used: C minor (notes: C Eb G) has the G note in it. The Eb

note is not part of the Bhairav scale. One could even try using Gm, Em etc for the Pa

and decide if it suits the phrase. As mentioned before, the Cm after the G7 in the

previous phrase will serve as a V7 to i movement (Seventh chord of the fifth position to

minor chord of the root), which is usually a good closing movement/cadence.


S, (G)r (G)r S, (N’)d’ N’ S, N’ S G M, G M (G)r, S


See Video-08- bhairav phrase - S, (G) r (G) r S, (N’) d’ N’ S, N’ S G M, G M (G) r, S

Sa

When C is the root, the C major chord (notes: C E G) can be used for the Sa, the C note.

(G )r

Notes: E C# (same as: E Db)

The A major chord (notes: A C# E) has both the notes of the phrase and therefore can be

used. The A note is not in the Bhairav scale (the note Ab is). But as long as there is no

clash with the phrase notes, the A note does not cause any trouble – just be careful

when using the A note chords in phrases which have Ab or A#, for example, and check

for unpleasant or disjoint sounds to be avoided.

The A major 7th chord (AM7th chord notes: A C# E Ab) also has the notes E and C# of

the phrase, and the G# note which is a Bhairav scale note.

Sa

Another occurrence of Sa. When in the root of C, the note C is the Sa. The A minor

chord (notes: A C E) can be used. The note E and C are part of the Bhairav scale, while

the A note is not. As long as the chord sounds fine, the A note in the chord is not a

problem.

(N) d N

Notes: B G# B

The E major chord (notes: E G# B) has the notes of the phrase B and G#. The E note of

the chord is also part of the Bhairav scale (Scale notes: C Db E F G Ab B).

N S G

Notes: B C E

The C major 7th chord (notes: C E G B) has all the three phrase notes. The extra note G is

part of the Bhairav scale (G is the Pa swara of the Bhairav scale) and therefore naturally

agreeable.

M G M

Notes: F E F

The F major 7th chord (notes: F A C E) has both the phrase notes. The note C of the

chord is the Sa – allowed. The A note is not part of the Bhairav scale, but is allowed if

the chord sounds fine to you on the given phrase.



(G) r

Notes: E C#

The A major chord (notes: A C# E) can be used.

S r G M P, P G M (N)d, d, P, P GMPGM (G)r, r S

See Video-09-Bhairav phrase - S r G M P, P G M (N)d, d, P, P GMPGM (G)r, r S

SrGMP

Notes when C is the root Sa: C D♭ E F G

In this example, we have chosen to play

the C#maj 7th chord (notes of the chord:C# F G# C ) for the C and D♭ (same note

as C#) notes.

F major 7th (notes: F A C E) for the notes E and F

C major chord (notes: C E G) for the Pa, G note.

P G

Notes: G and E



One could play the C major chord (notes: C E G) or the E minor chord (Notes: E G B)

which we have used in this example.

M N d - The E add ♭9 / F chord

Notes for swaras M N d when C note is the root or Sa: F B A♭

The last note of the previous phrase was Ga (note E). If we include that note in, we get

the notes: E F B A♭ (same as G# note).

The notes E A♭ and B forms the E major chord. To include the F note of the phrase, we

can play the F note along with the E major chord, which will then become the E major

add ♭9 chord or simply the Eadd♭9 chord (same as E add -9) which has all the notes of

the phrase M N d and also gives continuity from the previous phrase by including its

last note.

When the F note is played on the bass, the chord name can specify it by including it as E

add ♭9 / F

Playing the E add ♭9 / F chord on the guitar:

(The right most line represents the 1st string of a standard tuned guitar.)

D P

Notes: F C

The F minor chord (notes: F A♭ C) has all the notes within the scale of Raga Bhairav and

has the note F in it.

The C major chord (notes: C E G, which you know)can be used for the note C.


Pa Ga Ma

Notes: G E F

The G minor chord (notes: G B♭ D)has been used in this example, over the notes G E F.

Only the G note of the chord is within the Bhairav scale. The note E along with the Gm

chord forms the G minor 6th chord. The note F along with the G minor chord forms the

Gm7 (G minor seventh) chord.

If you agree to the sound the phrase makes with the Gm chord, use it. Else one may try

the C major chord, the FM7 chord, the C sus 4th chord, the G7 chord etc for the same

situation.

Pa Ga

Notes: G E

We can use the C major chord or the Em chord.

The example uses the C7 chord (notes: C E G B♭), a one note addition to the C major

chord.

The movement from the Gm chord from the previous phrase to the C7 chord is a ‘5 to 1’

motion since the G note is the 5th of the C note. This won’t have a big impact since the G

minor chord is used and not the G major or G7.

Ma Ga

Notes: F E

The Ma swara (the F note) can use the F major chord (notes: F A C). Include the E note

(to represent the Ga swara which appears before and after the Ma) to the F major chord,

and we have the FM7 (the F major 7th chord, notes: F A C E) chord.

r

Note: Db (same as C#)

The ‘r’ in this phrase is preceded by a Ga swara (note:E). The A major chord (notes: A

C# E) is a simple chord that has both the r and Ga swaras in it.

The A note in the A major chord is not part of the Bhairav scale, but Ab (same as G#)

note is part of the Bhairav scale.


Flatten the A of the A major chord and we get these notes: Ab C# E. These are the same

notes as the C# minor chord (notes: C# E G#). Therefore we can use the C# minor

chord with all the notes from within the Bhairav scale, for the ri.

r s

Notes: C# C

The C# major 7th chord (notes: C# F G# C) has both the ri and Sa notes in it. The Sa can

have the C major chord.

A single chord for SrGMP?

If we had to play just one chord for SrGMP, we could use the add♭9add4 chord.

When C is the root, the notes are: C D♭ E F G, where

C E G forms the C major chord

D♭ is the ♭9 note

F is the 4th note

We haven’t used the term suspended 4th, since a suspended 4th chord usually doesn’t

have the 3rd note, and has the 4th note instead of the 3rd note. Though exceptions of the

name sus 4th being used for chords having both the 4th and 3rd notes have been

mentioned in authoritative books like the Jazz Theory book, let us just keep things

simple and use the add term.

Playing the C add b9 add 4 chord on the guitar, open strings postion:


G M (N)d, d, P, G M P d N S”, r” S” N S” (N)d, d, P

See video-10-bhairav phrase - G M (N)d, (N)d N S”, N S” (N)d N d P

In this example, we are not trying to be very exact with the melody – chord connection.

Instead we just choose a few melody notes, try to fit simple chords over it, listen if it

suits and decide.

G M (N) d

Notes: E F B G#

The notes E G# and B forms the E major chord. Add the F note to it to get the E add b9 /

F chord which has been discussed before, including a possible fingering shape for the

guitar. If you wish to keep the chord simpler, the E major chord would work just fine

without the added F. Try the options, listen and decide.

d P

We have used an F minor chord (chord notes: F G# C) over the melody swaras Dha and

Pa (notes: G# and G)

The G# note is part of the F minor chord. The G note in the melody, along with the F

minor chord gives the sound of the Fminor add 2 chord.



G M P d N S

Notes when C is the root: E F G G# B C

The notes E and G are found in the E minor chord (notes: E G B). E and G# in the E

major chord (notes: E G# B).

The C major chord (notes: C E G) is an easy option for the Sa swara (note: C).

The E major chord has been used in the example, over the notes ‘G M P d’. The C major

chord has been used over the Ni and Sa.

r” S” N S” (N)d, d, P

Notes when C is the root, Sa: C# C B C B G# G# G

The A major chord (notes: A C# E) has been used over the r” S” N S” phrase (notes: C#

C B C). Only the C# note from the phrase is present in the chord.

The E major chord (notes: E G# B) has been used for the ‘(N)d’ part (notes: B G#). Both

the phrase notes are present in the chord.

The F minor chord (notes: F G# C) for the dha swara (note: G#) of the phrase.

The E minor chord (notes: E G B) for the Pa (note: G).

Try each chord over the phrase parts, decide if you like it or suits the needs.

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