Free Online Tanpura and Metronome
Play a tanpura drone in any of the 12 keys, add a steady metronome, and start your riyaz. It's free, needs no sign-up, and works in your browser on a phone or a laptop.
Pick your Sa:
Selected: Medium-low (C3)
Practice tools
Free practice with no scoring. Use headphones if you sing along, so the sound stays out of your microphone.
Tanpura
Plays your selected Sa. Change the key above to compare.
Metronome
A steady beat for keeping time while you practice.
How to use it
- Pick your Sa from the keys above. Lower, Middle and Higher are the octaves.
- Press Play under Tanpura. Change the key while it plays to compare keys.
- Start the metronome if you want a beat to keep time with, then sing your sargam, alankar or a raga. New to this? Read what riyaz is and how to build the habit.
What this tanpura plays
It plays the traditional four-string cycle: Pa (the fifth, in the lower octave), then Sa, Sa, and the low Sa, with each string plucked on its own. The sound is synthesized to follow that pattern rather than recorded from an instrument.
Questions
Is this online tanpura really free?
Yes. There's no sign-up and no download. Pick your Sa, press Play, and it runs in your browser.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, in any modern phone browser. On some iPhones the silent switch also mutes sound from websites, so if you hear nothing, turn silent mode off.
Which key (Sa) should I choose?
Pick a key where the lower Pa below Sa feels comfortable and the upper Sa is reachable without strain. Try a few keys while the tanpura plays and keep the one your voice settles into most easily.
What tuning does this tanpura use?
The traditional Pa, Sa, Sa, low Sa cycle, with one string plucked at a time. It is synthesized, not a recording, and the Ma and Ni tunings are not available yet.
Does the metronome play taal?
Not yet. It is a steady beat from 30 to 240 beats per minute, useful for keeping time while you practice.
Can I use it while I sing?
Yes. Headphones keep the sound out of any recording you make while you practice.
Keep practicing
Want feedback on your singing?
SurSetu gives you AI feedback on your pitch, rhythm and tone, and riyaz lessons that use this same tanpura. Free to start.
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