Hindustani / Ragas / Desi

Raag Desi

A raag of the Kafi thaat, Desi comes into its own in the 1st prahar of the day. It uses five swaras on the way up and six coming down, taking a vakra (winding) path rather than a straight line. Phrases centre on Pancham - the vadi, or king swara - answered by Shadj as samvadi.

Swars: Gandhar and Dhaivat Varjya in Aaroh. Nishad Varjya in Avroh. Gandhar and Nishad Komal. Rest all Shuddha Swaras.

Raga Desi

1st Prahar of the Day (6AM to 9AM)
Kafi thaatAudhav - Shadhav VakraVadi: PanchamSamvadi: Shadj
SRmPn
PDmPRgSRʼnS

Pakad: R m P · D m P Ṡ · Ṡ P D m P · R g S R ʼn S

Sargam is written with Sa on C: komal swars are lowercase, teevra Ma is M̄, ʼ before a swar marks the lower (mandra) octave and Ṡ / ʼ after marks the upper (taar) octave. The synth plays plain notes - the gamak, meend, and andolan that bring a raag to life are what you learn in class with an expert.

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