TanpuraSa at A♯kali paanch
An online tanpura in A♯ (B flat)
Kali paanch. A♯ belongs to high, luminous female voices — and to young singers whose comfortable Sa is still climbing year by year. It is a key of clarity: at this height there is nowhere for a wavering swar to hide, which is precisely what makes practising here so productive.
- Sa
- 233.08 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 466.16 Hz
- Pa
- F
- Ma
- D♯
- Ni
- A
- On a harmonium
- kali paanch
A high drone turns brittle easily, so the choice of voice matters: Sangat's deeper voice keeps an A♯ drone round and warm, the brighter one meets the key on its own terms. Both are real plucks, at A♯.
The full tanpura is free: 18 tunings with notes on their use, three plucking styles, fine tuning in cents, no account anywhere in the process. Open it and start where your voice actually lives.
A♯ as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- kali paanch (black 5)
- Sa
- 233.08 Hz (A♯3)
- Taar Sa
- 466.16 Hz (A♯4)
- Pa
- F
- Ma
- D♯
- Usually suits
- high female voices and young singers
Frequencies assume A = 440 Hz. Sangat has a fine tune in cents for an instrument that sits a little sharp or flat.
Tuning the first string
A tanpura's first string sets its colour; the other three hold Sa. With Sa at A♯:
- Pa (F) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (D♯) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (A) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (G♯) for Kafi, Bhairavi and Jaunpuri.
- Kharaj Sa — a deep drone an octave down, favoured in dhrupad.
Sangat has all eighteen tunings, each labelled with where it is used. Which tanpura tuning for which raga lists them all.
Is A♯ your Sa?
A good Sa lets you reach mandra Pa below it and taar Sa above it without strain. If you are not sure, how to find your Sa walks through it, and Sangat's Find my Sa listens to you sing and suggests a key — free, in the browser.
Questions
What frequency is Sa at A♯?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at A♯ is 233.08 Hz in the third octave (A♯3) and 466.16 Hz an octave above (A♯4).
What is Pa when Sa is A♯?
Pa is F, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is D♯ and shuddha Ni is A.
What is A♯ called on a harmonium?
A♯ is kali paanch (black 5) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at A♯?
High female voices and young singers. The right Sa is the one your own voice finds comfortable, not the one your group or recording uses.
Can I use an online tanpura in A♯ for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at A♯, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.