TanpuraSa at Esafed teen
An online tanpura in E
E — safed teen — is the crossing point. High for most male voices, low for most female ones, it is the key where duets negotiate, where a teacher demonstrates for a student whose range is not theirs, and where voices that never fit the standard advice end up perfectly at home.
- Sa
- 164.81 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 329.63 Hz
- Pa
- B
- Ma
- A
- Ni
- D♯
- On a harmonium
- safed teen
Because E gets sung from both directions, Sangat's two tanpura voices earn their keep here: the deeper one grounds a voice reaching up to E, the brighter one lifts a voice settling down onto it. Under both sit the same real plucks, at E exactly.
The whole tanpura is in the free tier: 18 tunings, three pluck styles, no account, no install. And if you suspect your true Sa is a neighbour of E rather than E itself, Find my Sa will listen and say so.
E as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- safed teen (white 3)
- Sa
- 164.81 Hz (E3)
- Taar Sa
- 329.63 Hz (E4)
- Pa
- B
- Ma
- A
- Usually suits
- voices between the usual male and female keys, and duets
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 E:
- Pa (B) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (A) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (D♯) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (D) 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 E 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 E?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at E is 164.81 Hz in the third octave (E3) and 329.63 Hz an octave above (E4).
What is Pa when Sa is E?
Pa is B, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is A and shuddha Ni is D♯.
What is E called on a harmonium?
E is safed teen (white 3) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at E?
Voices between the usual male and female keys, and duets. 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 E for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at E, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.