TanpuraSa at Gsafed paanch
An online tanpura in G
Walk past any music classroom and the drone you hear is probably G. Safed paanch is where many female students are started — kind to a young voice, close enough to the classic G♯ and A that moving later is a small step rather than a leap. Plenty of singers simply never leave.
- Sa
- 196.00 Hz
- Taar Sa
- 392.00 Hz
- Pa
- D
- Ma
- C
- Ni
- F♯
- On a harmonium
- safed paanch
A practice key deserves a practice tanpura. Sangat's is free without conditions: all 18 tunings, from a deep Kharaj Sa to a high Ma, both the deeper and brighter voices, three plucking styles, and real plucks at G. There is no account to make and nothing to install — it opens in the browser, on the family tablet or the phone in your pocket.
When the teacher says "a little higher next year", the key moves with two taps and the tanpura follows exactly.
G as Sa, in numbers
- On a harmonium
- safed paanch (white 5)
- Sa
- 196.00 Hz (G3)
- Taar Sa
- 392.00 Hz (G4)
- Pa
- D
- Ma
- C
- Usually suits
- many female students, and young voices
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 (F♯) — 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 196.00 Hz in the third octave (G3) and 392.00 Hz an octave above (G4).
What is Pa when Sa is G?
Pa is D, seven semitones above Sa. Ma is C and shuddha Ni is F♯.
What is G called on a harmonium?
G is safed paanch (white 5) — the name many Indian teachers use for the key.
Who usually sings with Sa at G?
Many female students, and young voices. 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.