TanpuraSa at G♯kali chaar
An online tanpura in G♯ (G sharp)
What C♯ is to male voices, G♯ is to female ones. Kali chaar is the classic female khyal Sa — the key female vocal recordings default to, the one teachers reach for first, the pitch a hall's tanpura gets retuned to when the soloist changes. If you sing khyal and were taught "black four", this page is your key.
- Sa
- 207.65 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 415.30 Hz
- Pa
- D♯
- Ma
- C♯
- Ni
- G
- On a harmonium
- kali chaar
Sangat gives it to you without ceremony: open the app and a real tanpura, at G♯, is already sounding. Eighteen tunings run from a deep Kharaj Sa to a high Ma for ragas that want it; two voices sit deeper or brighter under your range; three plucking styles set the roll.
All of it is free, with no account. And if you have only assumed G♯ is your Sa, Find my Sa can listen to a phrase or two and confirm it.
G♯ as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- kali chaar (black 4)
- Sa
- 207.65 Hz (G♯3)
- Taar Sa
- 415.30 Hz (G♯4)
- Pa
- D♯
- Ma
- C♯
- Usually suits
- most female khyal singers — the classic female Sa
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 G♯:
- Pa (D♯) — the default, right for most ragas.
- Ma (C♯) — for ragas without Pa, such as Malkauns and Chandrakauns.
- Ni (G) — for ragas where Ni is prominent, such as Bihag and Kalyan; komal Ni (F♯) 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 G♯ 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 G♯?
With A tuned to 440 Hz, Sa at G♯ is 207.65 Hz in the third octave (G♯3) and 415.30 Hz an octave above (G♯4).
What is Pa when Sa is G♯?
Pa is D♯, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is C♯ and shuddha Ni is G.
What is G♯ called on a harmonium?
G♯ is kali chaar (black 4) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at G♯?
Most female khyal singers — the classic female Sa. 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 G♯ for free?
Yes. The whole tanpura is free in Sangat: real tanpura recordings at G♯, all eighteen tunings, in the browser with no account.