Pentatonic Raags

You can also download the following table here:
Pentatonic Raags

1. As the name signifies, Pentatonic Raags have five svaras or notes.
2. With fewer svaras, it is easier for performers, and they also lend themselves well to musical ornamentations like Gamak and Meend, because of the higher distance between svaras!
3. Here are some details of the Raagas mentioned in the Table above:
   • Bhoopali: one of the most popular pentatonic raags with Sa Re Ga Pa Dha Sa, omitting Ma and Ni.
   • Deshkar is similar – Deshkar has the same five notes but the chalan and usage makes its temperament and personality different from Bhoopali e.g. Dha is more prominent making it more playful and allows faster movements while Bhoopali with Re prominence, is more serious.
   • Durga, a haunting and melodious raag named after Goddess Durga, symbolizes fearlessness and tranquility. With Re and Pa as Vadi and Samvadi, it omits Ga and Ni. 
   • Hamsdhwani – originally a carnatic raag but now adopted by the north.
   • Malkauns: Many Hindi film songs, especially bhajans, like the famous Man tarpat hari darshan ko aaj, are composed in this raag.
   • Shivranjini with sa re ga pa dha sa – with ga komal – a favorite of instrumentalists and ghazal-composers.
   • Vibhaas again has the same five notes as Bhoopali but with re and dha komal.
4. Because of the “jumps” inherent to Pentatonic Raags, skillful skipping over svaras brings great joy!
   • Like Durga’s appeal comes mainly from these skips & jumps.
   • Like Gunakali’s meends between taar saptak Sa to Komal Dha and between Ma and Komal Re, which form the signature of the raag.
5. There is also similarity amongst multiple raags often cutting across the Thaat System.
   • Like Bhoopeshwari – in the S-R-G-P region, is like raag Bhoopali, but when one moves to the G-P-d-S” region, the identification with Raag Vibhas becomes obvious!
   • Likewise, Lilavati is similar to Shivranjani in one range and Bhoopali Todi in another note range.
6. Also see the related concept of: Moorchhana.

More on Indian Classical Music:

The Alchemy of Indian Classical Music

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