How to Play Afreen Afreen on Harmonium
Afreen Afreen is one of the most beloved qawwalis in South Asian music, originally composed by Javed Akhtar and Qateel Shifai for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in 1996. The 2016 Coke Studio 9 reinterpretation by his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with newcomer Momina Mustehsan went massively viral — over 600 million YouTube views and counting — and reintroduced the qawwali classic to a new generation. Composed on the Yaman Kalyan tonal framework, Afreen Afreen is a harmonium showcase: the instrument carries the song’s melodic spine in both the original and the Coke Studio versions. Set your harmonium to G (Sa = G) and follow the sargam notation above to play Afreen Afreen on harmonium.
Song Background
Afreen afreen is an Arabic-Urdu phrase meaning “praise, praise” or “most beautiful creation” — a rapturous exclamation before divine beauty. The original Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan version (1996, composed by Qateel Shifai with music by Nusrat himself) appeared in his landmark album Sangam. The 2016 Coke Studio reinvention, produced by Faakhir Mehmood and sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan alongside 23-year-old engineering student Momina Mustehsan, became Coke Studio’s most-viewed song of all time. Momina Mustehsan’s television appearance became a cultural moment in Pakistan, and the song’s harmonium-and-strings arrangement remains the definitive template for modern qawwali recordings.
Raga Context
Afreen Afreen is loosely based on Raga Yaman Kalyan — an evening raga that uses tivra Ma (F# when Sa=C) and spans both lower and upper octaves. In the Coke Studio arrangement, the melody moves through all three saptaks (octaves), with the chorus “Afreen afreen” climbing into upper Sa’ territory. The melodic phrasing is deeply ornamented with meend (slides), gamak (oscillations), and taan (fast runs) — elements that harmonium players can approximate with sustained bellows and finger slides.
Key Information
- Scale: G major with Yaman-Kalyan feel (original is G#)
- Time Signature: 4/4 (Keherwa qawwali feel)
- Tempo: ~92 BPM
- Range: Lower Pa to upper Ga’
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Step-by-Step Practice Guide
- Set Sa to G. On web harmonium, the scale selector will transpose. The original Coke Studio recording is in G# (Sa = G#) but G is more accessible.
- Master the opening phrase. Pa Sa’ Ni Sa’ — “Husn-e-jaanaan ki tareef” — is the song’s signature. Play Pa in middle octave, leap to Sa’ in upper, curl back.
- Learn the descending resolution. Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa — this six-note descent closes the opening couplet. Each note should feel deliberate.
- Practice the “Afreen afreen” chorus. Ga Ma Re Pa Pa Pa | Pa Pa Dha Re’-Ga’ Re’ — the chorus climbs from Ga up to upper Ga’. Practice the leap from Pa to Dha to Re’ in isolation.
- Work on long held notes. Qawwali melodies hold phrase-ending notes for multiple beats. Sa’ held for four beats at the end of the opening is typical.
- Add ornaments gradually. Once the basic notation is solid, listen to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s recording and identify where he slides between notes. Add those slides to your playing.
- Use steady, medium bellows pressure. Qawwali demands sustained tones, not punchy ones. Smooth, even bellows produce the proper meditative atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What scale is Afreen Afreen in? The original Coke Studio recording is in G#. For harmonium practice, G or A major (Bilawal with tivra Ma) works well. Use web harmonium’s scale selector to match.
Is this the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan version or Rahat’s? The notation above follows the 2016 Coke Studio reinterpretation by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, which is simpler and more radio-friendly. The Nusrat original from 1996 has more complex melismatic ornaments.
Can harmonium beginners play Afreen Afreen? Intermediate is appropriate. The melody is accessible but the octave leaps and held qawwali-style notes require bellows control. Try Kesariya first to build basic technique.
What other qawwalis can I learn next? Pasoori and Tu Jhoom are both Coke Studio essentials that extend qawwali vocabulary.
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