Harmonium: Learn to Play The Soul of Indian Classical Music
Learn about the harmonium, its history, how to play it, and its role in Indian classical and devotional music. Play our free virtual harmonium online.
What is the harmonium?
The harmonium is a keyboard instrument in which the notes are produced by air driven through metal reeds by hand-operated bellows. Though originally invented in Europe, it has become an integral part of Indian music, used extensively in classical, semi-classical, and devotional music like Bhajans and Kirtans. On this site, you can experience a high-quality virtual harmonium right in your browser.
A Brief History of the harmonium
The instrument was invented in Paris in the 1840s by Alexandre Debain. It was later brought to India by missionaries where it was quickly adapted to sit on the floor and pumped by hand instead of foot pedals.
Key Features
- Keyboard based free-reed instrument
- Hand-pumped bellows
- Multiple drone notes (shruti)
- Essential in Hindustani classical music
Buying Guide & Recommendations
When looking to buy a harmonium, pay attention to the number of reed banks (usually two or three), the quality of the bellows, and whether it features a scale changer mechanism. For beginners, a simple two-reed, 3.25 octave instrument is usually sufficient.
Play the harmonium Online Now
Experience the authentic sound for free. No installation required. Works on desktop and mobile browsers.