Raag

A raag, often transliterated as raga, is a melodic framework used in Indian classical music to structure improvisation and composition. It defines a set of pitches (notes) and rules for how they may be used, the melodic motifs that are characteristic of the rag, and the emotional or atmospheric quality the rag is expected to convey. A raag is more than a scale; it is a living system of melodic behavior that guides the performer’s imagination and expression.

A raag specifies the notes to be used, the order in which they may rise (aroha) and fall (avaroh), and the notes that are emphasized or avoided. It may include mandatory notes, optional notes, and characteristic phrases (pakad) that help identify it. Ornamentation (gamaka) and micro-movements are often essential to its identity. Rag can be heptatonic (seven notes) or pentatonic and may be classified by the prominence of certain notes (vadi and samvadi). In Hindustani music, ragas may be associated with time of day or season to evoke particular moods; in Carnatic music, ragas are part of a more formal taxonomy with melakarta (parent scales) and derived ragas (janya).

In performance, a raag is explored through improvised sections and composed pieces. In Hindustani traditions, the alap introduces the rag’s mood and motifs before rhythm enters, while in Carnatic practice, the raga is presented in develops through raga alapana and then a structured kriti. Rag performance aims to evoke specific rasa, or emotional essence, through established melodic rules and expressive phrasing.