Piano scales

Scales source and guide for musicians

Indian Scale (Hanumatodi)

The Indian Scale consists of seven tones; notice the similarity to the Phrygian Scale. Although commonly referred as the Indian Scale, it should be emphasized that it is not the only scale used in Indian music. In India, musical scales are known as a raga and the presented raga is more genuinely spelled Hanumatodi, or just Todi (see the explanation of Indian music below).

This scale is often played differently ascending (arohanam) and descending (avarohanam). When you go down the scale, you use the notes indicated in the first set of diagrams (see below). When you go up the scale, two notes are left out as seen in the second set of diagrams, see Indian Scales ascending.

Indian Scales overview
C: C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C
C#/Db: C#, D, E, F#, G#, A, B, C# / Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db
D: D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D# / Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb
E: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E
F: F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, A, B, C#, D, E, F# / Gb, Abb (G), Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Fb (E), Gb
G: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G# / Ab, Bbb (A), Cb (B), Db, Eb, Fb (E), Gb, Ab
A: A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, C#, D#, E# (F), F#, G#, A# / Bb, Cb (B), Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb
B: B, C, D, E, F#, G, A, B

Intervals: 1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
Semitones: 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2
Formula: Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

Indian Scales ascending

The Indian Scale ascending omits the third and seventh notes as seen in the diagrams below. This scale is also known as the Hon-kumoi-joshi (the 4th mode of Hira-joshi).

Indian Scales (ascending) overview
C: C, Db, F, G, Ab, C
C#/Db: C#, D, F#, G#, A, C# / Db, Ebb (D), Gb, Ab, Bbb (A), Db
D: D, Eb, G, A, Bb, D
D#/Eb: D#, E, G#, A#, B, D# / Eb, Fb (E), Ab, Bb, Cb (B), Eb
E: E, F, A, B, C, E
F: F, Gb,, Bb, C, Db, F
F#/Gb: F#, G, B, C#, D, F# / Gb, Abb (G), Cb (B), Db, Ebb (D), Gb
G: G, Ab, C, D, Eb, G
G#/Ab: G#, A, C#, D#, E, G# / Ab, Bbb (A), Db, Eb, Fb (E), Ab
A: A, Bb, D, E, F, A
A#/Bb: A#, B, D#, E# (F), F#, A# / Bb, Cb (B), Eb, F, Gb, Bb
B: B, C, E, F#, G, B

Intervals: 1, b2, 4, 5, b6
Semitones: 1 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 4
Formula: Half, Quadra-step, Whole, Half, Quadra-step

Indian Classical Music

Indian classical music has a history that goes thousands years back. It is often categorized into two major traditions: Hindustani classical music from North India and Carnatic classical music from South India. These differs in terms of styles, repertoires and performance. However, both traditions use similar foundational concepts such as Raga, Shruti and Svara to construct melodies and expressions.

A Raga is a melodic framework that defines the mood and character of a piece of music. It consists of a specific set of notes (Svara) arranged in a particular order, with ascending (Arohana) and descending (Avarohana) sequences.

The concept of Shruti refers to microtones. While Western music divides an octave into 12 semitones, Indian classical music includes 22 Shrutis in an octave, which can be seen as more nuanced and contribute to the intricate melodic expressions in Indian music.

Svara, finally, refers to the notes that form the basis of melody. The seven fundamental notes, equivalent to the Western solfège system (Do-Re-Mi), are known as:

• Sa (Shadja)
• Re (Rishabha)
• Ga (Gandhara)
• Ma (Madhyama)
• Pa (Panchama)
• Dha (Dhaivata)
• Ni (Nishada)

These seven notes form the Saptak (octave) and its variations leads to different Ragas. The variations are categorized into Komal (flat) and Tivra (sharp) notes, similar to accidentals in Western music, that is.