Mela
In South Indian Carnatic music, mela is the term for a basic scale from which ragas are derived. The Melakarta system orders these scales: 72 melas, each with all seven degrees in a fixed order up and down. The mela supplies only the note collection. A raga is far more.
- System
- Melakarta: 72 melas
- Degrees
- seven, ascending and descending
- Structure
- 2 halves of 36 each, 12 groups (chakras) of 6 each
- Related
- ragas (derivations with omissions and characteristic phrases)
An order for scales
The Melakarta system counts through all scales that contain seven degrees in a fixed sequence. Every mela has Sa (tonic) and Pa (fifth) as fixed notes. For the other five degrees variants come into play: Ri, Ga, Dha and Ni each exist in several forms, Ma in two. The combinations give 72 melas. According to the form of the Ma degree they fall into two halves of 36 each, and each six melas with matching degrees Ri, Ga and Ma form one of twelve groups, called chakra.
Mela 29, Dheerasankarabharanam: like major in its note sequence
One of the best-known melas has the same note sequence as the European major scale.
Mela 22, Kharaharapriya: like Dorian
In its note sequence Kharaharapriya corresponds to the Dorian mode on C.
Mela 20, Natabhairavi: like natural minor
Natabhairavi has the same note sequence as natural minor.
Mela 15, Mayamalavagowla: two augmented seconds
Mayamalavagowla has two augmented seconds, D♭–E and A♭–B (marked: the upper notes). In European theory this note sequence is known as the double harmonic scale.
In the glossary: Scale · Maqam · Augmented second
Mela and raga
The four lines show the note sequence in European notation, in equal-tempered approximation. They give only part of what makes a mela. The pitches do not agree with those of the tempered system, and the tuning refers to a freely chosen tonic that sounds throughout as a drone. The syllable names of the degrees recall European solmization but are a tradition of their own.
| No. | Name | Closest European note sequence |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Mayamalavagowla | C D♭ E F G A♭ B |
| 20 | Natabhairavi | natural minor |
| 22 | Kharaharapriya | Dorian |
| 29 | Dheerasankarabharanam | major |
Mela and raga are to be distinguished. The mela supplies the note collection. The raga also includes characteristic phrases, notes of emphasis, kinds of ornament, directions of movement and a particular expression. Several ragas can have the same note collection and still sound fundamentally different. Equating raga and scale therefore falls short. From the melas many further ragas are derived that leave out notes, lead the note sequence in zigzags or take in single foreign notes.
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Related terms
ScaleMaqamChurch modeAugmented secondSemitoneImprovisation
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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