A Kafi Raga Guitar Scale — Drop B

Guitar scale in Drop B tuning — fretboard diagram

A Kafi Raga in Drop B — Notes and Intervals

The A Kafi Raga scale is a romantic and playful Raga that mirrors the Western Dorian mode. On Guitar, it contains the notes A, C, C#, D, E, F#, G, G#. 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: A, C, C#, D, E, F#, G, G#

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

Tuning: Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)

About Drop B Tuning

Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) takes the guitar into territory traditionally reserved for 7-string instruments, delivering a subsonic heaviness that you can feel in your chest. This tuning has become essential in modern extreme metal, deathcore, and djent, where low-end clarity and rhythmic precision are paramount.

Drop B represents the practical limit of what a standard 6-string guitar can handle before tone quality degrades. With the right string gauge (12-60 or heavier) and proper setup, it delivers the crushing lows of a 7-string while keeping the familiar 6-string layout. Bands like Architects, Periphery (on some tracks), and Parkway Drive have used Drop B to create some of the heaviest riffs in modern metal.

DeathcoreDjentProgressive MetalExtreme MetalMetalcore

Notable artists: Architects, Parkway Drive, Whitechapel, Born of Osiris, Emmure

Best for: Extreme metal riffs, deathcore breakdowns, djent chugs, and any style demanding the lowest possible 6-string tuning

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Drop B tuning