Play the sounds of India
Tap a tabla, blow a bansuri, pluck a sitar. Every sound is made live in your browser, so it works anywhere. Turn your volume up.
Instruments
Pick an instrument, then tap its pads. The drums have pads for their different strokes, and the melody instruments play the notes of sargam.
Play a raga
A raga is a set of notes with its own mood. Many are linked to a time of day. Pick one, switch on the drone, and play its notes.
Teentaal: the 16-beat cycle
Teentaal is the most common rhythm cycle in Hindustani music. Clap on beats 1, 5 and 13, and wave your hand on beat 9. Play along.
Echo game
Listen to the notes, then play them back. Each round adds one more note. Good for every age, and for playing in teams.
Bedtime raga
A slow bansuri melody over a soft tanpura drone, made up fresh every time in a calm evening or night raga. Set the timer, dim the lights, and it fades away gently.
Did you know?
These seven notes are called sargam. Sa is your home note, and you can choose it to suit your voice.
Indian classical music has two main traditions: Hindustani, mostly from the north, and Carnatic, mostly from the south.
Raga Bhupali in Hindustani music and Raga Mohanam in Carnatic music use the same five notes.
Tabla players speak their rhythms before they play them. Dha, Dhin, Tin and Ta are called bols.