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Indian Musical Instrument | Discover insightful articles, guides & stories
Scale-Change Harmoniums
Q: I was told not to get a scale-change harmonium because they break easily? Is that so?A: We do not find that to be the case. A well made scale change instrument will last as long as any other. Shipping scale change harmoniums can be a problem, though. Sometimes the mechanism will get jarred out of place. [...]
Harmonium styles
Q: What is the difference between student, professional and concert harmoniums?A: This is not a distinction we make. Some "professionals" use the simplest of harmoniums. Many of the finest made (and most expensive) harmoniums never make it out of their owners' music rooms. All the instruments we sell are of a standard that they can used by [...]
Is a harmonium tempered?
Q: If a harmonium is tempered, how can it be used in Indian Music?A: For the most part, yes, harmoniums are tempered instruments. This is why they are a bane to purists, and have been banned on All India Radio. Since they are designed to play in different keys, and some people like to play simple chords, [...]
How do you tune a harmonium?
Q: How often should a Harmonium be tuned?A: You tune the harmonium reeds by filing (scraping, sanding) a little metal off of one side of the vibrating tongue of the reed. One side makes it sharp, one side makes it flat. For a detailed explanation see our Harmonium Maintenance page. How often a harmonium should be tuned [...]
My baya has a dent. Is this a serious problem?
Q: My baya has a dent. Is this a serious problem?A: No. Bayas are sometimes dented in shipping or day to day jostling. This has no effect on the sound. When you rehead the baya, you can gently bang out the dents.
What about tablas that use metals hooks to hold the heads on, eliminating the strap altogether?
Q: What about tablas that use metals hooks to hold the heads on, eliminating the strap altogether?A: We have never seen a serious tabla player use such a drum. The hooks get in the way of your strokes.
Are there alternatives to the traditional cow or goat strap?
Q: Are there alternatives to the traditional cow or goat strap?A: Some people these days are using nylon strap. In our experience, it takes a lot longer to tighten this strap. But once the tension is right for the head, they hold the pitch longer than regular strap.
The straps on my tabla or baya broke. What should I do?
Q: The straps on my tabla or baya broke. What should I do?A: It is possible to splice broken strap. We try to get a video up soon of this process.
What do I do when my heads wear out?
Q: What do I do when my heads wear out?A: You have to replace the heads. In India you can take your shell to the local tabla-wallah and have a new head made right on your shell. Outside of India you will have to put a replacement head that has been made on another shell onto your [...]
There is a buzz in my tabla. What causes this, and is it bad? What can I do about it?
Q: There is a buzz in my tabla. What causes this, and is it bad? What can I do about it?A: It is a matter of taste, but some people want a small amount of buzz in their tabla. This is called jawari - similar to the jawari buzz of a sitar or tanpura. A loud buzz [...]