S-R-G-mM-P-D-nN-S
Despite its long history, Chaya (also called Shuddha Chaya) is now largely overshadowed by its compounds, chiefly including Chayanat. According to sarodiya Rahul Bhattacharya, the raga is “in many aspects a more restrained version of Chayanat”, chiefly distinguished by its poorvang-dominance and weaker treatment of komal ni – although Deepak Raja notes that “even learned musicians report that some compositions are indistinguishable”. Raja also gives unique phrases including RGmPDDP, adding that Buddhadev Dasgupta considers the raga proximate to Shuddha Kalyan via an emphasis on Re and Dha. Most modern renditions seem to be on sarod (e.g. Bhattacharya & Soumya Chakraverty) – although Bhimsen Joshi was known to perform it in conjunction with Chaya Malhar (the term ‘chaya’ translates as ‘shadow’: and may also describe ‘subtle shades’ of a particular sonic element: e.g. Dhavalshree often contains ‘chayas’ of Puriya Dhanashree).
• Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग छाया
Search | Glossary | Tags
• Hindustani Raga Index •
Aroha: SRGmPDS
Avroh: SNDPMPR, RGmPGmRS
Chalan: e.g. SR; RGmPD; DP; PS; SNDP; MPR; RGmP; GmRS; RS (Raja)
—Soumya Chakraverty (2018)—
[refrain, e.g. 3:10] D, D PP(M)P, PmR G m DPGGm R, (S)NN S, D, D…
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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
Some tintal improv around a wonderful Durga bandish I’ll be playing at @mehfilspace @the_rose_hill in Brighton on Thu 11th June! with vocalist @ashwinbaligaofficial and @marc_plays_tabla
https://therosehill.co.uk/event/the-mehfil-space-presents-around-the-world-in-8-ragas/
‘Around the World in 8 Ragas’: exploring cross-cultural melodic forms (e.g. scales that turn up independently in Japan, India, Mali, etc)
#indianmusic #raga #icm #brightonmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 10
• 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: Nat Bihag, Chandni Kedar, Saraswati Kedar, Manj Khamaj, Pancham se Gara, Medhavi
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–G–mM–P–D–nN–S
• Reverse: SrRgmMPdnS
• Complement: SrgdS
• Imperfect: 1 (Ma)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (R—d)
• Murchanas: Jaijaiwanti set
• Quirks: ‘maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Hamir Kalyani
S-R2-G3-M1-M2-P-D2-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Lydian-Mixolydian
1-2-3-4-#4-5-6-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-6-7-9-10-11-0
(2–2–1–1–1–2–1–1–1)
o • o • o o o o • o o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Chaya, Shuddha Chaya, Suddha Chhaya
• Transliterations: Hindi (छाया); Bengali (ছায়া)
—Anirban Dasgupta (2019)—
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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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