Recording Challenge #3 (Write a song in the ' Raga None' Scale)

[JD01]

OK, slightly different idea for a challenge from me.

Write a simple song, intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-outro (throw in a bridge and solo if you want) using the "Raga None" scale.
Its a scale based on Indian music so should come up with some interesting results.

There's probably a few variations on this floating about the web so here's the one I want us to use:

Raga None.PNG

Should be able to come up with some interesting things here with its two groups of chromatic notes (Greg, this should actually suit you for surfy/psychobilly stuff).
So, the scale has a 1, #2 (i.e. a minor 3rd), 3, 4, 5, #6 (i.e a minor 7th) and 7.

Its basically a major scale with a minor 3rd instead of a 2 and a minor 7th instead of a 6th.

To give you some tips.
Off your 1 you can build either a major triad or a minor triad.
Off your #2 you can just build a major triad.
Off your 3 you can just guild a minor triad.
Off your 4 you can't build a minor/major triad but you can get a 5th (powerchord)
Off your 5 you won't get anything nice - a root, maj 3rd and octave is probably the easiest thing here.
Off your #6 you again have a root and 5th, but you can also use a Sus4 and Sus2 on this one which should make for something nice.
The 7th chord is a clusterfuck of flat 5th and sharp 5th - seems like its useless for anything other than jazz.

Here's the full scale which you could transpose to any position on the neck with a full set of chord boxes that you can build off any of the scale degrees.

Full Raga None.PNG

I've not tried using this before - I've basically chosen a scale at random that looked like it had a decent number of easily usable chords in it - so I'm as interested in how this is going to turn out as anyone.

If anyone is stumped me, Armi, Lt. Bob, Mutt and probably musicturtle should be able to help you out.

[Greg_L]

[JD01]

LOL - almost exactly the mean I was expecting. I like the variation on the original!

[Greg_L]

Ugh.

If I make "1" an A chord, just tell me what other chords I can use and I'll do something with them.

[JD01]

Ugh.

If I make "1" an A chord, just tell me what other chords I can use and I'll do something with them.

OK.
1 = A Major but you can also use A Minor, Maj7, 7, min 7 or sus 4
2 = C Major - not much else available here.
3 = C# minor, or minor with a major 7th.
4 = D5 (powerchord) or a Sus2.
5 = E 3rd only, no 5th.
6 = G5 (powerchord) Sus2 or Sus4.
7 = G# Not a lot here either, 3rd only (no 5th), a tritone or a #5

Try and pop a riff over it using the scale.

[vomitHatSteve]

Alright. I'll definitely take a stab at this one.

[JD01]

Alright. I'll definitely take a stab at this one.

[Greg_L]

Ugh.

If I make "1" an A chord, just tell me what other chords I can use and I'll do something with them.

OK.
1 = A Major but you can also use A Minor, Maj7, 7, min 7 or sus 4
2 = C Major - not much else available here.
3 = C# minor, or minor with a major 7th.
4 = D5 (powerchord) or a Sus2.
5 = E 3rd only, no 5th.
6 = G5 (powerchord) Sus2 or Sus4.
7 = G# Not a lot here either, 3rd only (no 5th), a tritone or a #5

Try and pop a riff over it using the scale.

Uhhhhhh.....what? No I think I'm out.

[WhiskeyJack]

This one is so far out out of my wheelhouse it isn't funny.

If you had an audio verison of what it should sound like instead of a set of IKEA insturctions that would be more helpful to idiots like myself.

[JD01]

OK.
1 = A Major but you can also use A Minor, Maj7, 7, min 7 or sus 4
2 = C Major - not much else available here.
3 = C# minor, or minor with a major 7th.
4 = D5 (powerchord) or a Sus2.
5 = E 3rd only, no 5th.
6 = G5 (powerchord) Sus2 or Sus4.
7 = G# Not a lot here either, 3rd only (no 5th), a tritone or a #5

Try and pop a riff over it using the scale.

Uhhhhhh.....what? No I think I'm out.

You could pop something together with those chords, couldn't you?

[Tadpui]

Yikes, this is a tough one. I'll give it a try, but no promises that I'll end up with anything listenable.

[WhiskeyJack]

I just did a google / youtube search for "Raga None Scale" and there is nothing definitive coming up. What should i be searching [mention]JD01[/mention]

[JD01]

I just did a google / youtube search for "Raga None Scale" and there is nothing definitive coming up. What should i be searching @JD01

You don't need to search at all. I've put all the info you need in the post above. The name of the scale isn't that relevant.

So far all my ideas sound like Rolling Stones.

[Greg_L]

You could pop something together with those chords, couldn't you?

If it's just chords, sure. A major, C major, no problem. I already did a two chord song. Lol. But I don't know how any of it has to do with this indian scale and I don't know what a sus#5 tritone whatever is.

[Bubba]

No.

[JD01]

No.

Scared bubs?

[Tadpui]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shatsruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadham. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Rasikapriya, which is the 72nd (last) melakarta.

Thanks for clearing that up, Wikipedia. It all makes sense now.

[Greg_L]

Thanks for clearing that up, Wikipedia. It all makes sense now.

JD could have just led with that and this would have made much more sense.

[Bubba]

No.

Scared bubs?

How long have you known me now, and how many discussions have we had about music? I must have told you a thousand times that my musical brain just doesn't work like that. I have zero (perhaps even less) interest in knowing what chords can be built with different bits of a scale. Far from it being a way of releasing your creativity, I think it just funnels you down pre-determined, well-trodden paths. It's the musical equivalent of pressing flowers in a book, to me. I don't wanna know exactly where I am, where I'm going and what is coming next, Where is the fun is that? I want to be surprised and delighted coming across something accidentally.

I respect the fact that you like scales and chords and analysing everything but I hate it. I hate it as bad as Brexit.

I hope this has sunk in, now.

[Bubba]

shuddha madhyamam,

Also known as Shuddha Wuddha Cuddha.