B Kafi Raga Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
B Kafi Raga Scale — Notes and Intervals
The B Kafi Raga scale is a romantic and playful Raga that mirrors the Western Dorian mode. On Guitar, it contains the notes B, D, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#. It is welcoming and accessible, often used in folk-inspired classical music to express joy and lightheartedness. Commonly used in Indian Classical, Folk, World, Fusion. Notable players include Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain. Use over m7 chords — identical to Dorian usage. The most 'jazz-friendly' raga for fusion experimentation.
Notes: B, D, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m, 7M
Degrees: 1 b2 3 4 5 6 b7 8
Formula: WH-H-H-W-W-H-H-H
Number of notes: 8
How to Play B Kafi Raga on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 7 on the 6th (low E) to find your B root note. Because this scale has 8 notes, four-notes-per-string stretches may be necessary. Start with a single position and expand gradually. Keep your thumb centered behind the neck for reach.
The B Kafi Raga scale contains 4 sharps (D#, F#, G#, A#). This scale does not follow a traditional major or minor key signature, so reading from sheet music may require accidentals.
Practice Routine
Set a metronome to 80 BPM and play the B Kafi Raga scale in groups of four notes, shifting the starting note each repetition. This builds muscle memory across the entire scale range. After a week, try improvising short 4-bar phrases using only these notes.
Experiment with simple two-chord vamps rooted on B to let the characteristic intervals of the Kafi Raga scale come through clearly.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the B Kafi Raga scale on a single string from the open position to the 12th fret. This trains your ear to hear the intervals linearly and helps with slide guitar applications.
The B Kafi Raga scale contains 8 notes (B, D, D#, E, F#, G#, A, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for B Kafi Raga
The B Kafi Raga scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 8-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore B Kafi Raga Further
- Harmonize the B Kafi Raga scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- B Kafi Raga on Ukulele
- B Kafi Raga on Bass
- B Kafi Raga on Piano
Explore B Kafi Raga in Other Tunings
- B Kafi Raga in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Kafi Raga in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Kafi Raga in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Kafi Raga in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Kafi Raga in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Kafi Raga in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Kafi Raga in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Kafi Raga in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Kafi Raga in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Kafi Raga in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Kafi Raga in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Kafi Raga in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Kafi Raga in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Kafi Raga in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)