Shruti Box Online - Free Tanpura Drone

What is an online shruti box?

An online shruti box is a browser-based drone that holds your reference pitch while you sing or play. In Indian classical music, that reference pitch is Sa. This page gives you a free shruti box online with tanpura-style plucks, so you can practise harmonium, Sargam, raga phrases, or vocal exercises without a physical instrument.

How to use this free online shruti box

Choose your Sa pitch, select a drone pattern, then tap Start. Open the web harmonium in another tab and play over the drone; the shruti box keeps looping in the background. For most ragas and song practice, the Pa-Sa-Sa-Sa' pattern works well. For Yaman, Marwa, and ragas that avoid Pa, switch to Ma-Sa-Sa-Sa'.

Shruti box online for harmonium and song practice

This shruti box online works best as the pitch center for a complete practice session. Start the drone here, review the web harmonium guide if you need the Sargam key map, then practise one phrase from the harmonium song notes. Keep Sa running while you repeat the phrase so your ear learns where the melody should settle.

Tanpura vs shruti box: which one should I use?

A tanpura is the traditional string instrument used for a rich, pulsing drone. A shruti box is usually simpler and reed-based, but it serves the same practical purpose for learners: keeping Sa steady. This page combines both ideas by giving you a compact online shruti box with a tanpura-like four-pluck pattern for daily practice.

Best Sa pitch for harmonium practice

If you are practising on harmonium, set Sa to the same key as your harmonium transpose setting. Beginners can start around C4 and adjust until the melody sits comfortably. Many male vocalists practise near C or D, while many female vocalists use F or F#. Use the Sargam tuner if you need help matching your voice to the drone.