Question

how is raga different than major and minor in western classical music?

Answer 1

Most of the music lover from across the world especially Western people listen to Indian music as a very exotic and different type of music.

The main reason for it is western music is based on limited keynotes.formation of music is in major or minor. Western classical music is polyphonic, and follow the pre-set pattern to create music.

On the other hand, eastern music is based on the raga. It monophonic, and there is no limitation in selecting the notes to create rhythmic music under the region of the raga.

In western music use of scale and chord progression is found but in Indian classical music one note at a time is played under the limit of the specific raga.

Raga is based on specific moods, emotion and time of its playing in order to create its melodic effects.

Other most important difference is that Indian ragas are not written like Western symphonies or melodies.

Hence, there is much more scope for creativity for composers in Indian classical music.

There are two main forms of Indian classical music

1. Hindustani classical music

2. Carnatic or Karnataka classical music

There are many subforms of both forms known as “ gharana” like Banaras gharana, Patiala gharana,avadhi gharana, Delhi gharana,braj gharana, Agra gharana etc.

Some of the raga with there scales (According to Western music) are given below: