Online tanpura drone for riyaz
Practise singing or playing Indian classical music over a steady tanpura drone. Choose your Sa, the tonic that suits your voice or instrument, and the four strings pluck in the traditional order: the first string, two middle Sa strings and the low Sa.
Tune the first string to Pa for most ragas, to Ma for ragas without Pa, or to Ni for ragas such as Marwa. Change the speed and volume, and retune while it plays.
How to practise with the tanpura
- Pick a Sa you can sing comfortably. Many men sing around C or C#, many women around G# or A.
- Choose Pa, Ma or Ni for the first string, to suit the raga.
- Press Start and sing a long, steady Sa. Listen for it to blend with the drone.
- Work up through the sargam, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni, holding each note against the drone.
Why practise with a drone
The tanpura sounds the tonic and fifth all the time, so every note you sing is heard against Sa. That trains your ear to pitch each swara accurately, which is why riyaz in Hindustani and Carnatic music starts with a drone.
Frequently asked questions
Which Sa should I choose for the tanpura?
The note where you can sing a full, relaxed Sa and still reach the upper Sa comfortably. Try C or C# for many male voices and G# to A for many female voices.
When do I tune the tanpura to Ma instead of Pa?
For ragas that leave out Pa, such as Malkauns. Ni is used for ragas such as Marwa and Puriya, where Pa is weak or absent.
Is this a real tanpura recording?
No. It is an electronic tanpura made in your browser, with bright, buzzing overtones that bloom and ring like a plucked tanpura string.