S-R-G-m-P-D-n-S
Despite their historic renown, the Sakh family is seldom-heard in the modern era. While nomenclature varies, the ‘main’ Sakh raga is generally held to be a Khamaj–prakriti form, with mood and movements proximate to Rageshri and Gaoti – evident in Patiala pair Amanat & Fateh Ali Khan’s soothing ma-focused rendition, built around characteristic phrases including GmRS, S(nS) G(m)m and GmRS; RSn(Dn)S. Sources are scant on most other aspects of the raga’s lineage: some report that a close Lucknow variant is known as ‘Rageshri Pancham’ , and the closely overlapping Lachasakh (SRGmDnNS) – seemingly a Bilawal-ang form – is fabled as an ‘Amir Khusro raga’ after the 13th-century poet-composer of the Delhi Sultanate (…although admittedly, several other Khusro creations have no discernible historic links to him: see Sazgiri & Zeelaf). Also refer to other ‘Sakhs’: including Devsakh (SRgmPnS), Ramsakh (SRGmPDnNS), Bhavsakh (SRgmPDnS), and Nishasakh (SRGmDnNS), as well as the barely-traceable Gunsakh and Hanumatsakh. Further info very welcome!
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—Amanat & Fateh Ali Khan (1970)—
[bandish, e.g. 1:28] Gm, m (GmRSn)D, (n)D Sn/S, (nSn)RS, SS, RS S (nS) S(nRnS) (nD)n n(DnD)SD (D)n, n\DS S, S(RSR) R(GR) S\n(RS), G (mG)m m (mGmRn), P\m P\m S/P\G G, P(G) D(P) (P)S\n (SnSnS)D, (PS)D S(nSnSD) n(DSnSnSD), D(SD) (DSD)S…
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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
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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: Khamaj thaat, Khamaj, Jhinjhoti, Kambhoji, Khambavati, Sameshwari, Gaoti
Also compare to other members of the Bilawal raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–G–m–P–D–n–S
• Reverse: SRgmPdnS (=Darbari)
• Complement: SrgMdNS (=Gujiri Todi)
• Imperfect: 1 (Ga)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (r—P)
• Murchanas: Bilawal set
• Quirks: ‘maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: (~Khamas)
S-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N2-S
• Jazz: Mixolydian
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-7-9-10-0
(2–2–1–2–2–1–2)
o • o • o o • o • o o • o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa (+Pa)
• Names: Sakh, Saakh
• Transliterations: Hindi (साख)
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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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