Jog Raga

I've included the basic form of the Jog Raga with an ascending form and two descending forms.

This is a great piece of music to use for improvisation. The raga itself is meant to be used for improvisation.

If you have the time in class to listen there's a wonderful interview with Ravi and Anoushka Shankar where they discuss the history and purpose of ragas in Indian classical music.

Example of the Jog Raga-
Ascending and Descending

Like the melodic minor scale, this raga has different forms ascending and descending. When descending there are two common endings.

This recording goes through the ascending and two descending versions of the raga.

Classic example of this raga

This is Ravi Shankar's classic version of this raga from the 1956 recording, Three Ragas.

This recording is 28 minutes long so I wouldn't play it in it's entirety but this is a good example of the application of this raga from a master of his craft.

Bending Technique

As can be heard in the example above, bending is a key technique with this style of music.

Students that are brand new to the guitar may not have much success with this technique but it would be good to start getting them to try the appropriate form rather than learning it the incorrect way.

Slide Technique

This technique can be used throughout the improvisation. You can slide into and out of notes throughout the raga.

With the bending technique, sliding makes it possible to emulate the microtonal aspects of much of Indian classical music.