Hindustani / Ragas / Kafi

Raag Kafi

Sweet, earthy - the sound of thumri and hori. It uses all seven swaras on the way up and all seven coming down. Phrases centre on Pancham - the vadi, or king swara - answered by Shadj as samvadi.

Swars: Gandhar and Nishad Komal. Rest all Shuddha Swaras.

Raga Kafi

2nd Prahar of the Night (9PM to 12AM)
Kafi thaatSampurna - SampurnaVadi: PanchamSamvadi: Shadj
SRgmPDn
nDPmgRS

Pakad: g R · m P · m P D P · D n Ṡ · n D P

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.

Film songs in Raag Kafi

Hear the raag in songs you already know - the fastest way to internalise its mood. Tap a tile to play.

Ae Dunya Kya Tujh Se KahenChacha Zindabad (1967)Mehedi Hassan
Bairana Neend Na AyeGodaan (1959)Lata Mangeshkar
Biraj Men Holi Khelat Nand LalMunimji (1963)Mohd. Rafi
Ghayal HiraniyaMere Hazoor (1955)Lata Mangeshkar
Hamari Sansoo Me Aaj Tak Woh Hina Kis KushbooNon-film song (1977)Noor Jahan
Hori Ho Brij Raja DulareSaiqa (1968)K.L. Saigal
Ik Sitam Aur Meri Jaan Abhi Jaan Baqi HaiAnarkali (1968)Mehdi Hassan
Jalte Hain Arman Mera Dil Roota HaiChashme Buddoor (1981)Noor Jehan
Kaali Ghodi Dwar KhadiDhool Ka Phool (1981)Yesudas, Haimanti Shukla
Kaise Kahun Man Ki BaatDhool Ka Phool (1959)
Sudha Malhotra
Lat Uljhi Suljha Ja Re BaalamSawal (1966)
Noor Jahan
Mein Jo Dinan Ki ThoriChahat (1938)
K. L. Saigal
Pyar Bhare Do SharmeeleKoel (1959)
Mehdi Hassan
Rim Jhim Rim Jhim Pere Phawar Tera Mera Nit Ka PyarHeer Ranjha (1959)
Noor Jahan, Aslam Pervez
Sun Wanjli Di Mithri TaanwaySharafat (1974)
Noor Jahan
Tere Bheege Badan Ki Kushboo SeMeri Soorat Teri Aankhein (1963)
Mehadi Hassan
Tere Bin Soone Nayan HamareAn Evening With Jagjit Singh (Non-film song) (1963)
Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
+ 3 more songs in this raag

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