Free Browser-Based Indian Harmonium
Web Harmonium — Play Free Online
Play the two-octave instrument, follow six guided Bollywood and Coke Studio exercises, or try Game Mode. It runs in the browser with no download and supports touch controls.
Press ` to \ to play · MIDI auto-detected
Practice Songs — 3 Modes
Every song page opens with a built-in player. Choose ▶ Play to hear it, 🎯 Practice to follow the scrolling notation, or 🎮 Game to catch falling notes and chase a high score. Browse the full song library.
What is Web Harmonium?
A free browser-based practice instrument built around harmonium samples and a two-octave keyboard.
Web Harmonium is a free browser-based practice instrument with sargam labels and a harmonium sample. A physical harmonium uses hand-pumped bellows to move air through reeds; this tool instead uses the Web Audio API to play and pitch-shift its recorded sample. Open it in a supported browser and start playing — no download, installation, or signup.
This app is intended for note finding, sargam practice, and pitch reference when a physical instrument is unavailable. It does not reproduce bellows pressure, acoustic reed response, or the tactile control of a physical harmonium.
How to Play Online
The interface responds to both keyboard input and touch gestures, so you can use it from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone.
Desktop — QWERTY
The QWERTY keyboard maps directly to instrument keys. The top row
(` through \) covers two full octaves from C3 to B4.
Number keys (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, -, =) play the black keys. Press multiple
keys simultaneously for chords.
Mobile — Touch
Tap the on-screen keys directly on your phone or tablet. In compatible mobile browsers, multi-touch lets you press multiple on-screen keys at the same time.
Scale — Set Sa
Use the Transpose control to set Sa to any key. Setting Sa to D means all notes shift up by 2 semitones from C. Use this to place Sa at a comfortable pitch without changing the visible note layout.
QWERTY Key Mapping
| Key | Note | Sargam |
|---|---|---|
| ` | C3 | Sa |
| 1 | C#3 | r (komal Re) |
| Q | D3 | Re |
| 2 | D#3 | g (komal Ga) |
| W | E3 | Ga |
| E | F3 | Ma |
| 4 | F#3 | Ṁ (tivra ma) |
| R | G3 | Pa |
| 5 | G#3 | d (komal Dha) |
| T | A3 | Dha |
| 7 | A#3 | n (komal Ni) |
| Y | B3 | Ni |
| U | C4 | Sa' |
| I – \ | C#4–B4 | Upper octave |
Browser App — Free, No Download
The instrument runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. There is nothing to download, no app store visit, and no account to create. The instrument works in modern browsers that support the Web Audio API; MIDI availability varies by browser and device. Use it as a quick pitch reference or for an extended riyaz session.
The interface is designed for Indian music practice, with sargam labels on every key, a control for setting Sa, and a harmonium sample rather than a piano sound.
Understanding the Sargam Labels
Indian classical music uses seven notes called sargam (Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni), analogous to the Western Do Re Mi. Unlike Western fixed pitch, sargam notes are relative — "Sa" can be set to different pitches. The labels show the Indian note name assigned to each key.
Each note has shuddh (natural) and vikrit (altered) variants. Vikrit forms are either komal (flat: re, ga, dha, ni) or tivra (raised: Ṁ). Pa and Sa are always fixed. Understanding these labels makes it easier to read this site's swaralipi notation and follow its practice excerpts.
The Thaat System and Raga Practice
In the Bhatkhande classification, many Hindustani ragas are grouped under 10 parent scales called thaats. The 10 thaats are: Bilawal, Khamaj, Kafi, Asavari, Bhairavi, Bhairav, Kalyan (Yaman), Marwa, Poorvi, and Todi. This site currently provides introductory keyboard-orientation guides for Bilawal and Yaman.
Beginner Harmonium Tutorials
New to this instrument? Start with the keyboard layout, basic fingering, and notation guides.
Keyboard Layout
How QWERTY keys map to sargam notes
Finger Placement
Proper hand position and technique exercises
Read Swaralipi
Learn Indian notation to follow any tune
Explore Ragas
Beyond individual tunes, the keyboard can be used to explore Indian ragas and thaats. Each raga defines specific notes, patterns, and characteristic phrases:
Why Use a Browser Harmonium?
A browser instrument is useful when a physical harmonium is not nearby. Every key displays its sargam name, the Transpose control sets Sa, and the two-octave keyboard works with mouse, computer keyboard, or touch. The goal is quick practice and pitch reference, not a replacement for the bellows response and tactile control of an acoustic instrument.
Daily Riyaz, Bhajan, and Kirtan Practice
For daily riyaz, the keyboard can provide a repeatable pitch reference for alankars, scale exercises, and vocal warmups. Open the browser, select Sa, and start the exercise.
For bhajan and kirtan practice, it can provide a portable reference when the main instrument is unavailable. Students can also keep a tutorial open in another tab while trying the notes.
Physical Instrument vs. Browser Practice Tool
This is a practice tool, not a replacement for the real thing. A physical harmonium offers bellows dynamics, acoustic reed response, and tactile feedback. The web version offers quick access in supported browsers, pitch transposition, and headphone practice. Use it for note orientation and pitch reference; use a physical instrument to work on bellows and touch. See our about page for implementation details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Web Harmonium free to use?
Does Web Harmonium work on phones and tablets?
Can I connect a MIDI keyboard to Web Harmonium?
What is the difference between Web Harmonium and a real harmonium?
How do I change the key (transpose) on Web Harmonium?
Can this replace a physical harmonium?
Start Playing Now
Scroll up to the player, select your preferred scale, and try the ascending Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni-Sa' scale. Then explore tunes for guided sargam notation, tutorials for structured learning, or ragas for music theory. Use the browser instrument for note orientation and pitch reference, then continue technique work on a physical harmonium when one is available.
♫ Play Web Harmonium