B Todi Raga Bass Scale
Bass scale — fretboard diagramAdvanced
B Todi Raga Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Todi Raga scale is a meditative morning Raga from the Indian classical tradition. On Bass, its notes are B, C, D, F, F#, G, A#. It is associated with deep reflection and philosophical contemplation, using its unique notes to evoke a mood of gentle, serious introspection. Commonly used in Indian Classical, World, Meditation, Film Scores. Notable players include Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee. Traditionally used over a drone (tanpura). In Western harmony, try over sustained root notes or minimal chord changes.
Notes: B, C, D, F, F#, G, A#
Intervals: 1P, 2m, 3m, 4A, 5P, 6m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 b3 #4 5 b6 7
Formula: H-W-WH-H-H-WH-H
Number of notes: 7
Musical Character
A morning raga associated with deep philosophical contemplation. In the Indian system, specific ragas are tied to times of day — Todi is for the hours of introspection at dawn.
Genres & Notable Artists
Genres: Indian Classical, World, Meditation, Film Scores
Notable players: Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee
How to Use the B Todi Raga Scale
Traditionally used over a drone (tanpura). In Western harmony, try over sustained root notes or minimal chord changes.
Origin & Background
One of the ten fundamental thaats (parent scales) in North Indian classical music. Associated with dawn and philosophical contemplation.
How to Play B Todi Raga on Bass
On bass, locate B on the A string at fret 2. Use a one-finger-per-fret approach starting from the root and span two to three strings. Keep your fretting hand relaxed and practice shifting between positions cleanly.
The B Todi Raga scale contains 2 sharps (F#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the B Todi Raga scale ascending and descending at 100 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (B-D, C-F) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Exotic scales like the Todi Raga often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on B. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes. This scale is especially effective in indian classical contexts.
Bass Tips
Practice the B Todi Raga scale on bass using only your index and ring fingers for a two-finger-per-string approach, then switch to one-finger-per-fret. Both techniques are essential for different musical situations. Aim for a meditative quality in your phrasing to match the natural character of this scale.
Related Scales
The B Todi Raga scale contains 7 notes (B, C, D, F, F#, G, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Todi Raga
The B Todi Raga scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.