Ragam Hamsadhwani

Hamsadhwani (aka Hamsadhvani) is a symmetric pentatonic (audava-audava) ragam that uses the notes

Arohanam (ascent): S R2 G3 P N3 S’

Avarohanam (descent): S’ N3 P G3 R2 S

In western music the scale notes (swara sthanas) of Hamsadhwani  correspond to the Major 7th pentatonic scale. It uses the intervals 1 2 3 5 7.

If G# were the root note (equivalent to Sa) the notes of this ragam are: G# A# C D# G G#’

Of course, one can play it with any other root note as long as the intervals are the same. But G# is a reasonable pitch that matches that of many singers (5.5 kattai) and practicing at this pitch will make transcribing from recordings easier. On the other hand playing at a higher pitch - the D above the G# (7th fret 3rd string) - sounds nicer because the lower three strings are not wound and so there is less finger noise when playing. However, that pitch is high (certainly for singing) and the thara sthayi will be even higher so it may not be appreciated by many.

In the Carnatic melakartha scheme Hamsadhwani is the janyam of Kalyani (66th melakartha). It is placed under Kalyani because in this ragam Ga may be played plain or with gamaka. Some others place it as a janyam of the Shankarabaranam (29th melakartha) - though Ga in Shankarabharanam is played plain. The discovery of this ragam is attributed to Ramaswamy Deekshitar, the father of Muthuswamy Deekshitar.

The plain notes (swara sthana) on the guitar for the ascent (arohanam) and descent(avarohanam) for three octaves (sthayi) - middle (madhya), low (mandara), and high (thara)  - are shown below (Sa = G#)

The last three bars (above) shows how the arohanam and avarohanam of this ragam as played with gamakam. The gamakas for Ri and Ni are played as slides and slightly different in ascent and descent. Ri is played as Sa-Ga-Ri and Ni as Pa-Sa-Ni in the arohanam. During the descent Ni is played as Sa-Ni (sometimes Sa-Ni-Sa-Ni) and Ri as Ga-Ri-Ga-Ri. Also Ga is played as a slide or a double slide Pa-Ga or Pa-Ga-Pa-Ga.

Here is how the arohanam and avarohanam are played:

Here are some Hamsadhwani phrases transcribed from vocal records. 

The notation does not capture the timing of the slides accurately, here is what it should sound like. First the simple notes, then with gamakam, followed by phrases: