Grade Initial overview
Grade Initial
The Tanpura
A long, stringed Indian musical instrument that doesn't play songs or melodies. Instead, it creates a steady, soft drone — the reference note against which every swara is heard.
What it does
The tanpura creates a steady, sustained drone. The four strings together fill the space with a continuous harmonic field that sets the singer's Sa, holds pitch steady, and lifts the mind for riyāz.
How to use it in practice
Start every riyāz session by listening to a few moments of the drone before singing. The tanpura widget in the sidebar plays a standard four-string drone — turn it on and choose your Sa.