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Carnatic Ragas Player

Pick a Carnatic raga, hear its arohana and avarohana over a drone, and play a keyboard that highlights just its swaras.

Mohanam
Ārohaṇa ↑
Avarohaṇa ↓
Tap the swaras or keys to play. Press 1–9 for the swaras of the ārohaṇa.
About this tool

Free online Carnatic ragas player

The Ajenza Carnatic Ragas Player is a free interactive tool that runs entirely in your browser. Choose a raga — Mohanam, Hamsadhwani, Kalyani, Shankarabharanam, Todi, Kambhoji, Abheri, Bhairavi and more — and see its ārohaṇa (ascending) and avarohaṇa (descending) swaras, then hear them played with a mellow voice. Unlike a parent scale, many Carnatic ragas are asymmetric — the notes coming down differ from those going up — and this tool renders each raga's real path. Switch on the tanpura drone and sing along in tune, and use loop to repeat the scale for practice. Every note is synthesized live with the Web Audio API. Set your Sa to practise in any key.

Looking for the parent scales? See the 72 Melakarta ragas. For North-Indian ragas, try the Hindustani Raga & Scale Player. Add a drone with the tanpura or shruti box.

Frequently asked questions
What are ārohaṇa and avarohaṇa?

Ārohaṇa is the ascending swara order of a raga; avarohaṇa is the descending order. Many Carnatic ragas are asymmetric, and this tool shows and plays both faithfully.

Which ragas are included?

Popular ragas including Mayamalavagowla, Shankarabharanam, Kalyani, Kharaharapriya, Todi, Mohanam, Hamsadhwani, Hindolam, Madhyamavati, Abhogi, Abheri, Kambhoji, Bilahari, Harikambhoji, Natabhairavi and Bhairavi.

Is this the same as the 72 melakartas?

No — the melakartas are the 72 complete, symmetric parent scales. This tool focuses on the ragas people actually perform, many of them janya (derived) ragas with asymmetric or crooked paths. Browse the parents in the Melakarta explorer.

Can I change the key?

Yes — pick your Sa (shruti) and the keyboard, drone and playback all follow.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Everything is generated live in your browser with the Web Audio API — nothing to install and no permissions required.

More music tools: Melakarta Ragas · Raga & Scale Player · Tanpura · Shruti Box · All tools