TanpuraSa at F♯kali teen
An online tanpura in F♯ (F sharp)
F♯ — kali teen — is a female Sa with shade in it. Voices that find G♯ glassy and G merely fine often land here and stay: there is warmth in the key, and khyal sung at F♯ keeps its lower octave rich instead of vanishing under the tanpura.
- Sa
- 185.00 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 369.99 Hz
- Pa
- C♯
- Ma
- B
- Ni
- F
- On a harmonium
- kali teen
That lower octave is where jawari matters most, and Sangat's plucks are a real instrument's, with the buzz intact. Two voices — deeper, brighter — and three plucking styles decide the rest of the character.
Choose among 18 tunings, each with a note on where it is used, and let it run. Free, no account, and it keeps playing while you fetch the tea.
F♯ as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- kali teen (black 3)
- Sa
- 185.00 Hz (F♯3)
- Taar Sa
- 369.99 Hz (F♯4)
- Pa
- C♯
- Ma
- B
- Usually suits
- female voices with a darker, warmer colour
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 F♯:
- Pa (C♯) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (B) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (F) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (E) 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 F♯ 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 F♯?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at F♯ is 185.00 Hz in the third octave (F♯3) and 369.99 Hz an octave above (F♯4).
What is Pa when Sa is F♯?
Pa is C♯, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is B and shuddha Ni is F.
What is F♯ called on a harmonium?
F♯ is kali teen (black 3) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at F♯?
Female voices with a darker, warmer colour. 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 F♯ for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at F♯, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.