E purvi raga Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

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

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

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

G string: G#, A, A#, B, C, D#, E, F at frets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10

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

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

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E 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:

E

I

F

bII

G♯

III

A

IV

A♯

#IV

B

V

C

bVI

D♯

VII

tip
  • Use both 4ths as an inflection: natural 4th (A) in descent, raised 4th (A#) rising to the 5th, the tivra madhyam move of raga Purvi.
  • Keep the flat 2nd (F) and flat 6th (C) 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 E with open low strings ringing on the root; the eight-note density rewards space.

How to play E purvi raga on guitar

Both E strings ring the root open, so the key sits at the nut with no fretting needed to establish it. Open A carries the fourth and open B the fifth, which means four of the six strings are usable open. First shape runs out at 4. Roots also wait at 7 on the A and 9 on the G, so climbing the neck never leaves you far from home.

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