STRINGSCALES

A purvi raga Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: E, F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12

A string: A, Bb, C#, D, D#, E, F, G#, A at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

D string: D, D#, E, F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D at frets 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12

G string: G#, A, Bb, C#, D, D#, E, F at frets 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

B string: C#, D, D#, E, F, G#, A, Bb at frets 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11

High E string: E, F, G#, A, Bb, C#, D, D#, E at frets 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12

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A purvi raga

The purvi raga scale is the frame of raga Purvi from Hindustani classical music, here an eight note set: root, flat 2nd, major 3rd, both the natural and raised 4th, 5th, flat 6th, major 7th. The two 4ths capture the raga's characteristic tivra madhyam inflection. Its solemn, twilight character is traditionally associated with sunset performance.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

A

I

B♭

bII

C♯

III

D

IV

D♯

#IV

E

V

F

bVI

G♯

VII

purvi raga in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • Use both 4ths as an inflection: natural 4th (D) in descent, raised 4th (D#) rising to the 5th, the tivra madhyam move of raga Purvi.
  • Keep the flat 2nd (Bb) and flat 6th (F) as slow, weighted notes; this is a sunset raga, and haste breaks the mood.
  • Anchor phrases on root, III and V over a drone; the half-step neighbors then function as ornaments around them.
  • Try it as a slow solo-guitar piece in A with open low strings ringing on the root; the eight-note density rewards space.

How to play A purvi raga on guitar

Open A is the root and both E strings give the fifth, so a drone under the shape costs nothing. Open D fills in the fourth, which means four strings are available untouched while the fretting hand works above them. Lowest root waits at 5 on the low E. Another root hides at 2 on the G string. First box ends at 9, so the second shape starts above it.

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