S-r-G-mM-P-d-N-S
A morning form (Prabhat: ‘dawn’) summarised by Bose as “a combination of three or four ragas dominated by the Bhairav-ang, with a touch of Lalit-ang only in the avroh, where both Ma come together…The vadi Ma separates Prabhat Bhairav from Bhairav, while Pa keeps it away from Lalit” (also see the nearby Lalit Pancham). Characteristic sequences include GmG; rSrS; dNS; GmdP; mGr; GmMGrS – refer to an excellent demo by Mrinal Dhongade, who summarises it as “heart-warming: an uttarang-pradhan raga, with repeated nyas on shuddha ma”. Prakriti with Paraj and Poorvi – and thus far, the exclusive realm of vocalists. Compare to other members of the Bhairav and Lalit ragangas.
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राग प्रभात भैरव
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Aroha: SrGm; GmdP; dNS
Avroh: SNdP; mGr; GmMGrS
Chalan: illustrative sequences – e.g. GmG; rSrS; dNS; GmdP; mGr; GmMGrS
—Sharad Sathe (2017)—
[bandish, e.g. 3:14] S(d)NS, G, G/m(GmG), G(mG)PmG\r S, SSS, S(NrS)N\d, dNSS, SG mG, PmG\r S, Sr/d(PdP), P(m), mPm(GmG), rGmMMG, r/dM(rdM), rS; S(d)NS, G…
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• Recent Raga Index Updates (Sep 2026): Melodic ‘snapshots’ of prachalit ragas • Up to 365 raga pages! Some highlights: Bayati, Basant Mukhari, Bilaskhani Todi, Chandranandan, DoGa Kalyan, Jog, Kalavati, Kaushiki, Malkauns, Maru, Meladalan, Parameshwari, Sarangkauns, Vachaspati (+ try out ‘Audav Meladalan‘) • What does ‘Kauns’ mean? Analysing 60+ Kauns ragas • ‘Bifurcations‘: ‘poorvang vs. uttarang’ splits • Amir Khan’s ‘168 merukhands’ • Experiments (e.g. overtonal Bhairav, jazz Malkauns) • Survey of Sa Tunings • More Masterlist ragas (1000+)
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: Paraj, Paraj Kalingada, Poorvi
Compare to other ragas from the Bhairav and Lalit ragangas (as well as to other forms which fuse elements of both)
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–r–G–mM–P–d–N–S
• Reverse: SrGmMPdNS (=itself)
• Complement: SRgDnS
• Imperfect: 2 (Pa, dha)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (S—M)
• Murchanas: none
• Quirks: ‘palindromic‘ (same intervals forwards & backwards)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Kamavardhini
S-R1-G3-M1-M2-P-D1-N3-S
• Jazz: Double Harmonic (dbl. 4th)
1-b2-3-4-#4-5-b6-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-4-5-6-7-8-11-0
(1–3–1–1–1–1–3–1)
o o • • o o o o o • • o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Prabhat Bhairav, Prabhata, Prabhati
• Transliterations: Hindi (प्रभात भैरव)
—Mrinal Dhongade (2010)—
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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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