Bhangra music

What is it?

Bhangra is a style of music and dance from South Asia,

known for its fluid, energetic choreography and
harmonious vocals. Learn about the genre’s evolution
and the main characteristics that comprise the sound
and performance style.
 Where is it?

A geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia,

specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent,
on the Indus Plain comprising areas of eastern Pakistan and
North Western India. 
 (5) Old Punjab (1940), old Punjabi songs, Best old punjabi
History of Bhangra music songs forever, Punjabi culture, - YouTube

Traditional Bhangra: The exact origins of bhangra are unclear, but historians
speculate that Punjabi farmers may have performed (sing songs to the rhythm of
the dhol drum) bhangra folk music to pass the time while working as early as the
fourteenth or fifteenth century in Sialkot, a Punjab district in Pakistan. Later to played
to celebrate Harvest.
Punjabi community began recording bhangra music in the 1960s. 

Modern Bhangra and new (5) Heera Group Uk - Dowain Jaaniya - YouTube
sounds

Millions of Punjabi citizen departed from India and moved to the United Kingdom in the 20 th
century. By the 1980s, popular bhangra bands like Alaap, Heera, and Malkit Singh
blurred the lines between Punjabi music and Western pop and rock, 

(5) 40 minute Bhangra Mashup - DJ Manjit | Non Stop Punjabi

Contemporary Bhangra music Dance Songs - YouTube
3 Characteristics of
Bhangra music

•1. Punjabi instruments: Traditional

bhangra music features several
Punjabi musical instruments, namely
the dhol drum, which is necessary for
creating the bhangra beat.
• Other instruments in bhangra music
include the single-stringed tumbi, the
violin-like sāraṅgī, and an array of
additional percussion instruments like
the tabla and dhad.
•2. Upbeat lyrics: Singers of traditional
bhangra sing in Punjabi, and bhangra
songs typically focus on upbeat topics to
match the high energy of the music.
Popular subjects in Western music—
love, marriage, the joy of dance, the
pursuit of happiness— are also
frequently referenced in bhangra songs.
Pride in Punjabi culture and heritage is
also a favorite lyrical topic.
•3. Impassioned vocals: Bhangra singers do not
employ the reedy tones of other Indian vocal styles
but instead deliver songs in a high and impassioned
voice. They also often ad-lib sounds and phrases to
encourage a call-and-response with the audience.
Rhythm, metre and tempo

• Fast and steady tempo that is appropriate to dance to

• The percussion accents on first beat of the bar to emphasise the downbeat.

• Most common time signature for any music is 4/4 (or common time)

• Chaal rhythm: eight note repeated pattern

Melody and Harmony

• Simple harmonies

• Melodies are melismatic (more than 1 note on 1 syllable)

• the lyrics are sung in the Punjabi language

Texture and Dynamics

•the texture is usually melody and accompaniment

• No specific dynamic change, usually played in Forte (Loud)

 Famous performers of Bhangra

• Alaap (5) Alaap - Dama Dam Must Kalandar – YouTube

• Malkit Singh (5) Kali Ainak - Malkit

Singh | Official Video | Music Waves | Jay K | Latest Punjabi Songs 2022
– YouTube

• Panjabi MC (5) Panjabi MC - Mundian To Bach Ke

(The Dictator Soundtrack) – YouTube
Song Analysis:

Analyse the song “Dalvindor Singh’s” Yaar

Da Viah

What can you hear in the song?

Need to mention:
Use the ‘Example
• Melody Material’ in the VLE
• Harmony to help you
• Tonality
• Rhythm
• Structure
• Instrumentation
• Texture
• Timbre
• Production

(5) Vision Vee - Dalvinder Singh - Yaar Da Viah - YouTube

 Music analysis

Dynamics: Loud (Forte)

Rhythm: Chaal rhythm: eight note repeated pattern with the most common 4/4 time
signature
Instruments: traditional Bhangra instruments such as Dhol drum, violin like tumbi
Pitch: High pitch
•Texture: Thick texture
•Timbre: energetic/ rich in sound/ powerful/ bright
•Tempo: Fast