D Todi Raga Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
D Todi Raga Scale — Notes and Intervals
The D Todi Raga scale is a meditative morning Raga from the Indian classical tradition. On Guitar, its notes are D, Eb, F, G#, A, Bb, C#. 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: D, Eb, F, G#, A, Bb, C#
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
How to Play D Todi Raga on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 10 on the 6th (low E) to find your D root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is open position using open D string.
The D Todi Raga scale contains both sharps and flats (2 sharps, 2 flats), which is common in altered and exotic scales. This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the D Todi Raga scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Exotic scales like the Todi Raga often work best as a melodic layer over a single root drone on D. Let the unique intervals speak for themselves without frequent chord changes.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Todi Raga scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The D Todi Raga scale contains 7 notes (D, Eb, F, G#, A, Bb, C#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for D Todi Raga
The D 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.
Explore D Todi Raga Further
- Harmonize the D Todi Raga scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- D Todi Raga on Ukulele
- D Todi Raga on Bass
- D Todi Raga on Piano
Explore D Todi Raga in Other Tunings
- D Todi Raga in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Todi Raga in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Todi Raga in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Todi Raga in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Todi Raga in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Todi Raga in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Todi Raga in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Todi Raga in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Todi Raga in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Todi Raga in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Todi Raga in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Todi Raga in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Todi Raga in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Todi Raga in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)