Melakartas

Melakartas are fundamental scales in Indian classical music used to organize pitches and create melodies. Each Melakarta is a parent scale with a specific set of notes arranged in a particular order, serving as a blueprint for many derived ragas (melodic frameworks). There are 72 Melakartas, each unique in its combination of notes, and they provide a systematic way to classify and understand melodic structures. Think of them as the musical “keys” or “modes” that help musicians craft intricate and expressive compositions within a well-defined framework.