[2] Its arohana-avarohana structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms): The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chatushūruti rishabam, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, chatushruti dhaivatam, kakali nishadam.

It is a Sampurna raga in Carnatic music, that is to say, has all the seven notes: Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni.

Kalyani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 5 other major Melakarta ragams, namely, Hanumatodi, Sankarabharanam, Natabhairavi, Kharaharapriya and Harikambhoji.

The most popular film composition set in Kalyani is "Mannavan Vandhanadi Thozhi" by K. V. Mahadevan rendered by P. Susheela,[3]" and Sindhanai Sei Maname by G. Ramanadhan.

M. S. Viswanathan has composed numerous songs in Kalyani such as "Isai Ketal Puvi" from the movie Thavapudhalavan, "Indha Mandrathil" from Policekaran Magal, "Maalai Sudum mananaal" from Nichaya Thamboolam, "Kannan Vandhan" from Ramu, "Azhagennum Oviyam Inge", "Paar Magale Paar", "Varuvan Vadivelan", "Maduraiyil Parandha Meenkodi", "Mugathil Mugam paarkalam".

The Bharathiar composition Veenai Adi Nee Enakku from the movie Ezhavathu Manithan is set in the Kalyani ragam.

"Aa Nimishathinte" from the Malayalam movie Chandrakantham and "Swarganandini" from Lankadahanam composed by M. S. Viswanathan is set in Kalyani.

It is first mentioned in the literature in the late 16th century, by which time it was very popular: The Sahasras contains 45 dhrupad song-texts for Kalyan and five for Iman-Kalyan.

Telang, Gokulanand; Bhartendu, Banwari Lal (1962), Sangīta Rāga Aṣṭachāpa, Hathras: Sangeet Karyalaya.

Thakar, Vasant Vaman, Sangīta Rāga Darśana, Prayag: Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal Prakashan.