TanpuraSa at Bsafed saat
An online tanpura in B
B — safed saat, the last white key before the octave folds over — is the top of the common range. Children's voices sit here naturally, as do the highest female voices; and some singers set Sa at B precisely to sing an octave below it, letting the drone shine above the voice instead of underneath.
- Sa
- 246.94 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 493.88 Hz
- Pa
- F♯
- Ma
- E
- Ni
- A♯
- On a harmonium
- safed saat
Both readings work in Sangat. The brighter tanpura voice gives a B drone its full sparkle for a voice that genuinely lives up here; the deeper voice, or one of the Kharaj-side tunings among the eighteen on offer, keeps the key from turning shrill when the drone is meant to sit high and soft above the singing.
As with every key: real plucks at B, three plucking styles, a fine tune in cents — all free, with no account and nothing to install.
B as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- safed saat (white 7)
- Sa
- 246.94 Hz (B3)
- Taar Sa
- 493.88 Hz (B4)
- Pa
- F♯
- Ma
- E
- Usually suits
- the highest female voices and children
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 B:
- Pa (F♯) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (E) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (A♯) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (A) 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 B 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 B?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at B is 246.94 Hz in the third octave (B3) and 493.88 Hz an octave above (B4).
What is Pa when Sa is B?
Pa is F♯, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is E and shuddha Ni is A♯.
What is B called on a harmonium?
B is safed saat (white 7) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at B?
The highest female voices and children. 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 B for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at B, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.