The reason I am posting this is because many of these scales have really chromatic or exotic intervals that sound amazing for metal. Otherwise, this is just music theory drivel about South Indian/Carnatic music.
In order to understand any of this, you will need to know your intervals. Other than that, you need no prior knowledge of ragas or Indian music to play these scales.
To briefly explain, South Indian/Carnatic music has what are called Melakarta Ragas, or parent ragas, which their nearly infinite number of child ragas are born from. These are 72 scales grouped conveniently into 12 groups of 6 called Chakras (and you'll understand why shortly). This evening, I took the time to write down the intervals to each scale. All the sources I could find on the subject only had these scales in a sort of Indian syllable-based tab system, so this will be easier on us Western folk.
Before I list the scales, I will make the process of learning these ragas as simple as possible for you.
I've provided a picture to help the learning experience. The Un-highlighted intervals, 1st and 5th, are unchanging, so expect them to always be the same. The interval in green, the 4th, is perfect half of the time, then augmented half of the time. For the first six chakras (or groups of scales/ragas), the 4th is perfect, and for the remaining six, it's augmented. The intervals in red can be minor, major, or augmented, and the intervals in blue can be diminished, minor, or major. However, there is a rule that if a red interval is augmented, the blue next to it must be major. Otherwise, they may be of any unique combination.
Using this graphic, you can take the one scale provided and turn it into 72 unique scales. You don't even have to know what they are. Take the initial scale listed and make those changes to the scale however you wish, and you will always be playing a raga. This is all you need to know to play any raga/create any scale on the fly. However, I will be going over the relationships of the chakras and ragas below, for those more interested about it. There will also be a bit more info on the usage of all this, so read it anyway.
Something to know is that there are 12 different chakras (or groups of ragas/scales) and 6 ragas/scales in a chakra. If you observe the Melakartas listed below, you will see that there is a constant pattern/formula. The pattern is in the second picture above. When you use this sequence on the 6th and 7th intervals, you are changing ragas/scales in a chakra. When you use this sequence on the 2nd or 3rd intervals, you are changing chakras. If you do the sequence in order, first on the 6th and 7th, then on the 2nd and 3rd, you will be going through each raga, then chakra, in order. However, after doing this six times, you will start again. To keep going, you must augment the 4th, or else you're just starting over.
In fact, you don't even need to know there are 12 different chakras or 6 ragas in a chakra. All you need to know is the first picture. As long as you follow it, you are playing a raga.
In the first picture, there is section called "Raga Mixture". This is a lot like modal mixture. As long as you play a power chord, or a chord with the notes of the scale/raga you're exiting that are also into the one you are going into, you can play all 72 ragas even in one single solo. The only trick about doing this is not exiting on a note that conflicts with the scale you're going into. Therefore, it is easiest to exit on a 1st/8th or a 5th. Since the 4th only changes half of the time, it can also be relied on to make the jump from scale to scale. However, know the 4th is augmented half of the time, if you ever choose to play those ragas. Another trick is that, if you are only to change the 6th/7th, then play down at the 2nd/3rd that you aren't changing, and go back up to reveal the change of scale, and vice versa. This technique should unlock nearly every note on your fretboard for you to play in a song/solo/lick or whatever you want.
Here I will list all 72 scales:
Indu Chakra --
1. Kanakangi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
2. Ratnangi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, b7
3. Ganamoorti:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, 7
4. Vanaspati:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, 6, b7
5. Manavati:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, 6, 7
6. Tanaroopi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Netra Chakra --
7. Senavati:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
8. Hanumatodi/Todi: (Phrygian).
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
9. Dhenuka:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
10. Natakapriya:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
11. Kokilapriya:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
12. Roopavati:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Agni Chakra --
13. Gayakapriya:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
14. Vakulabharanam:
1. b2. 3. 4. 5. b6, b7
15. Mayamalavagowla:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
16. Chakravakam:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
17. Sooryakantam:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
18. Hatakambari:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Veda Chakra --
19. Jhankaradhwani:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
20. Natabhairavi:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
21. Keeravani:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
22. Kharaharapriya:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
23. Gourimanohari: (Melodic Minor)
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
24. Varunapriya:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Bana Chakra --
25. Mararanjani:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
26. Charukeshi: ("Hindu scale")
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
27. Sarasangi:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
28. Harikambhoji:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
29. Shankarabharanam/Dheerashankarabharanam (Major/Ionian)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
30. Naganandini:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Ritu Chakra --
31. Yagapriya:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
32. Ragavardini:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
33. Gangeyabhooshani:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
34. Vagadheeshwari:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
35. Shoolini:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
36. Chalanata:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Rishi Chakra --
37. Salagam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
38. Jalamavam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, b7
39. Jhalavarali:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, 7
40. Navaneetam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, 6, b7
41. Pavani:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, 6, 7
42. Raghupriya:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Vasu Chakra --
43. Gavambhodi:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
44. Bhavapriya:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
45. Shubhapantuvarali:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 7
46. Shadvidamargini:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
47. Suvamangi:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
48. Divyamani:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Brahma Chakra --
49. Dhavalambari:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
50. Namanarayani:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
51. Kamavardini:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
52. Ramapriya:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
53. Gamanashrama:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
54. Vishwambari:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Disi Chakra --
55. Shamalangi:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
56. Shanmukhapriya:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
57. Simhendramadhyamam:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 7
58. Hemavati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
59. Dharmavati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
60: Neetimati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Rudra Chakra --
61. Kantamani:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
62. Rishabhapriya:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
63. Latangi:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
64. Vachaspati:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
65. Mechakalyani/Kalyani: (Lydian)
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
66. Chitrambari:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Aditya Chakra --
67. Sucharita:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
68. Jyotiswaroopini:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
69. Dhatuvardani:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
70. Nasikabhooshani:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
71. Kosalam:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
72. Rasikapriya:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
In order to understand any of this, you will need to know your intervals. Other than that, you need no prior knowledge of ragas or Indian music to play these scales.
To briefly explain, South Indian/Carnatic music has what are called Melakarta Ragas, or parent ragas, which their nearly infinite number of child ragas are born from. These are 72 scales grouped conveniently into 12 groups of 6 called Chakras (and you'll understand why shortly). This evening, I took the time to write down the intervals to each scale. All the sources I could find on the subject only had these scales in a sort of Indian syllable-based tab system, so this will be easier on us Western folk.
Before I list the scales, I will make the process of learning these ragas as simple as possible for you.
I've provided a picture to help the learning experience. The Un-highlighted intervals, 1st and 5th, are unchanging, so expect them to always be the same. The interval in green, the 4th, is perfect half of the time, then augmented half of the time. For the first six chakras (or groups of scales/ragas), the 4th is perfect, and for the remaining six, it's augmented. The intervals in red can be minor, major, or augmented, and the intervals in blue can be diminished, minor, or major. However, there is a rule that if a red interval is augmented, the blue next to it must be major. Otherwise, they may be of any unique combination.
Using this graphic, you can take the one scale provided and turn it into 72 unique scales. You don't even have to know what they are. Take the initial scale listed and make those changes to the scale however you wish, and you will always be playing a raga. This is all you need to know to play any raga/create any scale on the fly. However, I will be going over the relationships of the chakras and ragas below, for those more interested about it. There will also be a bit more info on the usage of all this, so read it anyway.
Something to know is that there are 12 different chakras (or groups of ragas/scales) and 6 ragas/scales in a chakra. If you observe the Melakartas listed below, you will see that there is a constant pattern/formula. The pattern is in the second picture above. When you use this sequence on the 6th and 7th intervals, you are changing ragas/scales in a chakra. When you use this sequence on the 2nd or 3rd intervals, you are changing chakras. If you do the sequence in order, first on the 6th and 7th, then on the 2nd and 3rd, you will be going through each raga, then chakra, in order. However, after doing this six times, you will start again. To keep going, you must augment the 4th, or else you're just starting over.
In fact, you don't even need to know there are 12 different chakras or 6 ragas in a chakra. All you need to know is the first picture. As long as you follow it, you are playing a raga.
In the first picture, there is section called "Raga Mixture". This is a lot like modal mixture. As long as you play a power chord, or a chord with the notes of the scale/raga you're exiting that are also into the one you are going into, you can play all 72 ragas even in one single solo. The only trick about doing this is not exiting on a note that conflicts with the scale you're going into. Therefore, it is easiest to exit on a 1st/8th or a 5th. Since the 4th only changes half of the time, it can also be relied on to make the jump from scale to scale. However, know the 4th is augmented half of the time, if you ever choose to play those ragas. Another trick is that, if you are only to change the 6th/7th, then play down at the 2nd/3rd that you aren't changing, and go back up to reveal the change of scale, and vice versa. This technique should unlock nearly every note on your fretboard for you to play in a song/solo/lick or whatever you want.
Here I will list all 72 scales:
Indu Chakra --
1. Kanakangi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
2. Ratnangi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, b7
3. Ganamoorti:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, b6, 7
4. Vanaspati:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, 6, b7
5. Manavati:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, 6, 7
6. Tanaroopi:
1, b2, bb3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Netra Chakra --
7. Senavati:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
8. Hanumatodi/Todi: (Phrygian).
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
9. Dhenuka:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
10. Natakapriya:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
11. Kokilapriya:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
12. Roopavati:
1, b2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Agni Chakra --
13. Gayakapriya:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
14. Vakulabharanam:
1. b2. 3. 4. 5. b6, b7
15. Mayamalavagowla:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
16. Chakravakam:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
17. Sooryakantam:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
18. Hatakambari:
1, b2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Veda Chakra --
19. Jhankaradhwani:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
20. Natabhairavi:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7
21. Keeravani:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7
22. Kharaharapriya:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7
23. Gourimanohari: (Melodic Minor)
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, 7
24. Varunapriya:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Bana Chakra --
25. Mararanjani:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
26. Charukeshi: ("Hindu scale")
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
27. Sarasangi:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
28. Harikambhoji:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
29. Shankarabharanam/Dheerashankarabharanam (Major/Ionian)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
30. Naganandini:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Ritu Chakra --
31. Yagapriya:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, bb7
32. Ragavardini:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7
33. Gangeyabhooshani:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, b6, 7
34. Vagadheeshwari:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, b7
35. Shoolini:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
36. Chalanata:
1, #2, 3, 4, 5, #6, 7
Rishi Chakra --
37. Salagam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
38. Jalamavam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, b7
39. Jhalavarali:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, b6, 7
40. Navaneetam:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, 6, b7
41. Pavani:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, 6, 7
42. Raghupriya:
1, b2, bb3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Vasu Chakra --
43. Gavambhodi:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
44. Bhavapriya:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
45. Shubhapantuvarali:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 7
46. Shadvidamargini:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
47. Suvamangi:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
48. Divyamani:
1, b2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Brahma Chakra --
49. Dhavalambari:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
50. Namanarayani:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
51. Kamavardini:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
52. Ramapriya:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
53. Gamanashrama:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
54. Vishwambari:
1, b2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Disi Chakra --
55. Shamalangi:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
56. Shanmukhapriya:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, b7
57. Simhendramadhyamam:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, b6, 7
58. Hemavati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, b7
59. Dharmavati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, 6, 7
60: Neetimati:
1, 2, b3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Rudra Chakra --
61. Kantamani:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
62. Rishabhapriya:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
63. Latangi:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
64. Vachaspati:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
65. Mechakalyani/Kalyani: (Lydian)
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
66. Chitrambari:
1, 2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
Aditya Chakra --
67. Sucharita:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, bb7
68. Jyotiswaroopini:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, b7
69. Dhatuvardani:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, b6, 7
70. Nasikabhooshani:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, b7
71. Kosalam:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, 6, 7
72. Rasikapriya:
1, #2, 3, #4, 5, #6, 7
