Raga Ramkali is a

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

and can be themed around soothing things a man would say to please a discontent wife, it is an early morning raga belonging to Bhairav Thaat. In this raga, as in Bhairav, Rishabh and Dhaivat are Komal( flat), but the Teevra and the flat nishad are added. The vadi-samvadi are Pancham and Shadja. The aroha is S r G M P, G M d N S' and the avroha is S' N d P m P, d (N)d P, G M r S. Flat nishad (seventh degree) and sharp madhyama (fourth degree) are used often. Ramkali also appears in

Sikh Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...

tradition in

North India North India is a geographical region, loosely defined as a cultural region comprising the northern part of India (or historically, the Indian subcontinent) wherein Indo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority populati ...

and is a part of Sikh Scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Another form of this Raga present in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is
Raga Ramkali Dakhni
.

Theory

Arohana and avarohana

Arohana Arohana, Arohanam, Aroh or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The pitch increases a ...

Avarohana An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

: Vadi : Pa

Samavadi The samavadi or samvadi is the second-most prominent (though not necessarily second-most played) note of a raga in Indian classical music. The primary note of the raga is the '' vadi''; the vadi and samavadi are in most cases a fourth or fifth a ...

: Sa

Pakad In Hindustani music, a ''pakad'' (Hindi: पकड़) is a generally accepted musical phrase (or set of phrases) thought to encapsulate the essence of a particular raga. The pakad contains the melodic theme of the raga, on listening to the paka ...

/ Chalan :

Description

This raag is very similar to Raga Bhairav. Rishabh and Dhaivat are less oscillating in Raag Ramkali than in Bhairav. This Raga is sung in middle and upper octave, which discriminates it from Bhairav. In Ramkali, Teevra Madhyam and Komal Nishad are used in a specific combination in Avroh like: . Generally, Rishabh is skipped in Aaroh like: .

References

Hindustani ragas Ragas in the Guru Granth Sahib {{India-music-stub