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North Indian Classical Music

Pentatonic Ragas
(Ragas using 5-note scales)

The pentatonic scale, consisting of five notes, in its many variations, was used extensively in India. Below are some ragas that use pentatonic scales. Raga names in blue are links to the MP3 recordings.

Raga Abhogi sung by the Ali Brothers. Scale: C, D, Eb, F, A. Jhoomra Tal, Tintal.
Recorded in the 1960s. 
Raga Gavati sung by the Ali Brothers. Scale: 
Ektal, Eintal. Recorded in the 1960s.  
Raga Bhindabani Sarang sung by Bhimsen Joshi. Scale: C, D, F, G, B. This recording was made at a concert at Mumbai, India in 1967.
Raga Gujaree Todi played by Vilayat Khan (sitar) and Bismillah Khan (shenai). Scale: C, Db, Eb, F, Ab, B
Recorded in the 1960s. 
Raga Malkauns: Scale: C, Eb, F, Ab, Bb. See the Raga Malkauns Page
Raga Chandrakauns: Scale: C, Eb, F, Ab, B.
Raga Bhupali. Is the pure, or pathagorian, pentatonic scale. Scale: C, D, E, G, A. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Santoor, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, flute, Brij Bhushan Kabra, guitar, and Manikrao Popatkar, tabla. Tal is Japtal. 1960s.
Raga Bhupala. Uses the pure, or pathagorian, pentatonic scale. Scale: C, Db, Eb, G, Ab
Raga Bairagi. Scale: C, Db, M, G, Bb
Raga Megh. Scale: C, D, F, G, Bb. See Rainy Season Raga Page
Raga Malhar. Scale: C, D, F, G, A.
Shivarangani Scale: C, D, Eb, G, A
Gunkali Scale: C, Db, F, G, Ab
Bibhas Scale: C, Db, E, F#, A
Hindol Scale: C, E, F#, A, B
Bibhas Scale: C, Db, E, F#, A
Jait Scale: C, Db, E, G, A
Bhupal Todi Scale: C, Db, Eb, G, Ab
Mangal-Bairo Scale: C, Db, E, F, B
Durga Scale: C, D, F, G, A
Shivarangani Scale: C, D, Eb, G, A