How to Tune a Sitar that Needs More than a Basic Checkup
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- Опубликовано: 25 фев 2021
- We all wish there was a shortcut, but there is none. Hopefully, this video will give you some tips about what to do when your sitar has been jolted around on a bumpy road, or if you’ve had to change a string. Maybe there’s been a deadline at work that made practice take a back seat in your life. Regardless of the reason, if you’re not playing regularly, the sitar will often need 30 minutes or more of your dedicated time to bring those 20 strings back into a vibrantly resonating state. It’s a meditation with many symbolic applications. It’s a practice of deep listening and patience to help something that’s worthy of your love, sing again. Filmed on January 19th, 2021 - Miranda Stone
The shorter, five-minute tuning video can be found here: tinyurl.com/SitarTuning5min
If you are interested in using the Khamaj Alap practice video playlist for sitar, here's the link: tinyurl.com/KhamajAlapPractice
Recommended Tuners:
iStroboSoft - this is a reliable (but costing $9.99) app for tuning with hertz - tinyurl.com/iStroboSoftTuner
Pano Tuner - this is a reliable (and free) app for tuning with hertz - tinyurl.com/PanoTuner
Boss Chromatic Tuner: For this tuner (unless you get the new app version that is available) you need a pickup in your sitar with a quarter inch output. This has been my preferred tuner since 1987 and it still works perfectly. It needs a 9-volt battery. It does not show frequencies so your ear has to know what octave you are aiming for - tinyurl.com/BOSSTuner
You can also use a clip-on tuner which senses the vibration in your instrument, an excellent choice in noisy environments. Snark makes quite a few models. Peterson StroboClip HD is also an excellent one.
Sitar Tuning Chart Showing Frequencies in Hertz (Kharaj-Pancham or Ravi Shankar Style)
Hz = hertz
A number after a note, like D2, indicates which octave the D is in. For example, D4 is 'Sa' which in western solfege is called 'Do,' or the tonic. D4 is played on the 1st string (Playing String/Baj ka Tar) at the 7th fret. D2 would be two octaves lower than D4 and is the lowest note on a Ravi Shankar style sitar played on the open 4th string. This style of sitar was also played by Nikhil Banerjee.
1st String - Bāj ka Tar (the Playing String) - G3 - 196.00 Hz
2nd String - Jori ka Tar (the Joḍ String) - Ṣa - lower D3 - 146.83 Hz
3rd String - Pancham - P̣ạ - lowest A2 - 110.00 Hz
4th String - Kharaj - Ṣạ - lowest D2 - 73.42 Hz
5th String (Pancham Chikāri) - Pa - A3 - 220.00 Hz
6th String (Sa Chikāri) - Sa - D4 - 293.66 Hz
7th String (High Ṡa Chikāri) - Ṡa - D5 - 587.33 Hz
Tarab Strings tuned to ragas related to Khamaj. There are many configurations of tarab string tuning, and each artist has their own preference in every raga. I sometimes tune the 3rd tarab to a low Komal Ni4 - C4 - 261.63 Hz.
1st Tarab - Sa - D4 - 293.66 Hz
2nd Tarab - Shuddh Ṇi4 - C#4 - 277.18 Hz
3rd Tarab - Sa - D4 - 293.66 Hz
4th Tarab - Re - E4 - 329.63 Hz
5th Tarab - Shuddh Ga - F#4 - 369.99 Hz
6th Tarab - Ma - G4 - 392.00 Hz
7th Tarab - Pa - A4 - 440.00 Hz
8th Tarab - Shuddh Dha - B4 - 493.88 Hz
9th Tarab - Komal ni - C5 - 523.25 Hz
10th Tarab - Shuddh Ni - C#5 - 554.37 Hz
11th Tarab - High Ṡa - D5 - 587.33 Hz
12th Tarab - High Ṙe - E5 - 659.25 Hz
13th Tarab - High Ġa - F#5 - 739.99 Hz
Filmed by Miranda Stone
Edited by Miranda Stone and Chris Hale
Audio recording by Chris Hale
If you have any questions, comments, or inquiries about lessons, feel free to write to Chris through his website at ChristopherHaleSitar.com/contact 
Видеоклипы
This is by far the best explanation and demonstration of how to tune all the strings on a sitar. Providing the actual frequencies ensures that each string ends up in the right octave. The difference in the sound of my sitar after following the instructions given in this video is night and day. Now all my tarab strings are singing away in resonance! My sitar has never sounded this good! Excellent video.
Lee - that is just absolutely delightful to hear that you are enjoying the sound of your sitar. Both Miranda and I are very happy!
You're great man❤❤ playing about 40 years.. Best explanations and tuunig tutorial.. Thank you
Wow, 40 years! Thank you so much!
Christopher, Thank you very much for this video that I just stumbled upon. Lots of great information here that I will use to tune my new Sitar that I just purchased. I have been a guitar player for 50+ years and, as you probably already know, this is a different animal all together, but I enjoy it. Not only have I enjoyed this video, I have also subscribed to your great channel. I saw many other videos that will be of help to me. Thank you again. Information like this is kind of hard to come by, especially how well you explain each and every step.
I'm so glad you found me and I'm glad too that the tuning video and other videos are proving helpful to you in your sitar journey!
Thanks for making this video
Hi Nicholas! Thanks so much. I'm glad you have found it helpful!
Very helpful tuning instructions. Thank you so much for posting it.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the video. Probably the best sitar tuning video on RUclips.
Thanks so much for that very kind complement!
Nice explaination❤
Thanks so much Sharma ji!
Best video I've seen on tuning sitar. Just a question; do you ever put anything under the fine tuning swan and beads? Seems like they could easily slip on the wood surface.
Yes, I glue (with light watered down wood glue or sometimes a few drops of super glue) a piece of sand paper with a light grit (between 100-220) onto the tabli for the playing string and juri ka taar and in some cases two small strips also at the neck end for the two beads that fine tune the Kharaj and Pancham. I don't currently have sand paper at the neck end, but I have done that in the past. If you are facing a problem with the beads slipping, this will solve it. It's also best to position the beads in such a way that they are not pushed to their maximum but also not to their minimum before they become loose. But tune the sitar in such a way as to have the fine tuners pushed some distance so that they are tight and have less risk of slipping back. The sand paper at the tabli end will be glued underneath the tarab strings, and so those strings will rest on top of the sand paper. So you need to make sure there is a part of the paper that is exposed and not covered by the tarab strings, where the tuning beads can make contact with the sand paper.
@@SitarTorontoVery helpful info. 👍 Thanks so much. 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing this- especially the frequencies in Hz!!! I started learning the Sitar a little bit in India but didn't found a teacher in Australia and no teacher could tell me the Hz to tune my Sitar and it is very difficult if you're not used to tune one. I was seeking for this information so long. Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💗
Hi Shahzadee! I'm so glad you have found this video helpful for tuning. It is such a challenge to tune a sitar. I hope you will persevere until it becomes easier for you!
WESTERN Notes please!!!!!
The western notes are included at the end of each printed line in the video.