TanpuraSa at Dsafed do
An online tanpura in D
D — safed do — is C♯ with the lights turned up: still male territory, but brighter, more forward. Bhajan singers reach for it, younger voices often start here before gravity has its say, and it suits repertoire that wants lift rather than gravitas.
- Sa
- 146.83 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 293.66 Hz
- Pa
- A
- Ma
- G
- Ni
- C♯
- On a harmonium
- safed do
In Sangat, a tanpura in D is real string plucks at the key. Three plucking styles set how the strings roll; a fine tune in cents settles the last few hair-widths when you are matching an old harmonium that has drifted.
Eighteen tunings cover everything from a Kharaj Sa two octaves of calm below, up to a high Ma for ragas that lean on it. All of it is free, with no account — the browser tab is the whole setup.
D as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- safed do (white 2)
- Sa
- 146.83 Hz (D3)
- Taar Sa
- 293.66 Hz (D4)
- Pa
- A
- Ma
- G
- Usually suits
- male voices that want a brighter, more forward key
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 D:
- Pa (A) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (G) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (C♯) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (C) 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 D 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 D?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at D is 146.83 Hz in the third octave (D3) and 293.66 Hz an octave above (D4).
What is Pa when Sa is D?
Pa is A, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is G and shuddha Ni is C♯.
What is D called on a harmonium?
D is safed do (white 2) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at D?
Male voices that want a brighter, more forward key. 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 D for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at D, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.