S-R-gG-m-P-nN-S
Despite its unique swara set, Lachari Kanada is rare to the point of extinction: the only two recordings I can track down are both brief cuts by Agra stalwart Latafat Kussain Khan (one is said to have been captured at a baithak in Kolkata, the other is of unknown origin). His rendition reveals Kanada turns in poorvang (e.g. m\gm), but the uttarang is of a radically different character – Dha is avoided throughout, and both Ni variants are used in emphatic swoops towards taar Sa. Shuddha Ga is placed on the sam of the mukhda, and komal ga also appears in Jog-like descending motions of GmgS (a vakra pattern mirrored at the double-Ni position as NSnP: n.b. see Amrut Ranjani for the same idea at Dha). Lachari Kanada’s basic scale form is also an exact ma-murchana of Ambika Sarang – also compare and contrast with other ‘double-Ga Kanada’ ragas including Gunji Kanada, Nagadhwani Kanada, and Enayetkhani Kanada. And you can learn more about Latafat Hussain Khan’s life in a brief bio from Parrikar (“particularly known for his powerful voice, his crisp nomtom alaps, and his effervescent delivery…he took ‘Premdas’ for his colophon, also composing music for a Hindi film or two…”).
• Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग लाचारी कान्ह्डा
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• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Latafat Hussain Khan (~1960s)—
[refrain, e.g. 0:16] G, Gm(G), S S(mRPmD)P, (P)SNS, (N)S nPn\PP, mPnPm\G, (Gm)P P(G)mR, SRG(mG), m/n(Pn)P, m/n(mPGmS)g (S)g(RgR)S(NS), S(mGPmnP)N S(NS)P n(PmPmg) (P)Gmg(S), G…
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Salaman (Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko): I’ve loved this composition since ripping it from a Frome Library CD when I was 14… Originally performed by the legendary kora duet on their ‘New Ancient Strings’ album, Based on ‘Tita’, a love song from Western Mali (…the b6 has a ‘between minor and major’ tuning…handled here with a messy bend)
And if you like this stuff then check out Derek Gripper, the true master of arranging Toumani Diabaté for the guitar! @derek_gripper
#kora #worldmusic #mali #africanmusic #guitarsolo @toumanidiabatemusic @ballake.sissoko
Sep 2
Raag Jog: exploring different ways the electric guitar can support a Dhrupad-ang nomtom (syllabic improvisation)…
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#dhrupad #raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic
Jun 28
Raag Kafi: Electric guitar improv around the adha bandish ‘Aaj Khel Shaam Sang Hori’
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 22
Raag Jog: some sawal-jawab (‘question-answer’) fun with Marc Clayton on tabla
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 15
• Classifiers •
Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the Full Tag List):
Swaras: -4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10+
Sapta: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Poorvang: SRGM | SRG | SRM | SGM
Uttarang: PDNS | PDS | PNS | DNS
Varjit: Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni
Thaat: 10 | 32 | Enclosed | Inexact
Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra
Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row
Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2
Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night
Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball
Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern
Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang
Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.
• Prakriti: (none found)
See all shadav ragas which omit Dha – and also compare to other members of the Kanada raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–gG–m–P–nN–S
• Reverse: SrRmPdDnS
• Complement: SrMdDS
• Imperfect: 2 (Re, Ni)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: Lachari Kanada set
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Dwijavanthi
S-R2-G2-G3-M1-P-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Ionian-Dorian (no 6th)
1-2-b3-3-4-5-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-3-4-5-7-10-11-0
(2–1–1–1–2–3–1–1)
o • o o o o • o • • o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Lachari Kanada, Lacchari Kannada
• Transliterations: Hindi (लाचारी कान्ह्डा)
—Latafat Hussain Khan (~1970s)—
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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!
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