Kapi

The scales of raga Kapi are as follows :

Aarohanam (Ascending) :  S R2 M1 P N3 S’
Avarohanam (Descending) : S’ N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S

This raga is most beautiful when rendered in slow or medium-slow speeds. It gives a sense of sadness and pathos as well as devotion. Some well known compositions in Kapi are Jagadodharana by Purandaradasa, Enna Tavam Seydanai by Papanasam Sivan, Meevalla Gunadosha and Inta Sowkhyama by Tyagaraja.

Kapi is a janya raga, derived from Kharaharapriya (below), 22nd on the Melakarta scale.

Tamil readers may enjoy the following discussion on the raga by Charulata Mani.

Note : The 12 notes in the octave are named as below. Please note that C is used as Sa for the sake of simplicity as the scale is relative in Carnatic Music. Also note that the scales paint only a superficial picture of the raga as the gamakas(ornamentations) are a very important part of a raga.