Online sitar tuner: Sa and cents
Sitar tuning depends on the school, instrument and raga. This tool opens in free chromatic mode: set the note and octave of your Sa or each string you want to check. No fixed sympathetic-string map suits every performance.
Setting sitar targets
Guidance without a universal string sequence. The manual target uses sounding note, octave and an offset in cents.
| Part | What to check |
|---|---|
| Sa | Sounding note and octave chosen by the musician |
| Main strings and chikari | Targets for your stringing and school |
| Sympathetic taraf | Degrees specified for the raga |
How to use it
- Select your instrument's profile; in free mode, set the manual target note and octave.
- In free mode, confirm the manual target note and octave, set A4 and cents to match your reference, then enable the microphone.
- Isolate one string, mute its neighbours and play gently. Wait for a stable reading after the attack.
- Check note, octave and cents before moving the peg or pin slowly. Repeat for every string.
Help and explanations
The microphone measures one note at a time and displays frequency and deviation in cents. Check the octave as well as the note name: a string in another register can appear in tune. Hear the target before adjusting, then stop the reference tone while measuring your string.
Main strings, chikari and sympathetic strings
Main strings and chikari have different roles from the taraf, which vibrate sympathetically. Tune one string at a time and mute the others so the strongest resonance does not dominate. A change of raga may require different taraf degrees; follow your teacher when choosing targets.
A swara name is relative to Sa, whereas C4 or D3 identifies an absolute pitch. A cents offset allows comparison with a precise reference but does not infer a raga's nuances. Set intervals with your teacher and use your ears alongside the display, especially when performing meend.
Reference pitch, transposition and capture
A4 starts at 440 Hz; changing it shifts all references. Transposition moves targets in semitones, while cents add a small offset. In string profiles, capture recalculates A4 from the first target, even when another string is selected. In free mode, select the manual note and octave before capturing. This follows a known sound rather than discovering a traditional tuning automatically.
Tips
- Play the intended string gently and mute resonance: the jawari timbre can emphasise harmonics.
- Measure close to the microphone in a quiet place, and stop reference tones while listening to your string.
- Check the tuning again after the first pass: tension and temperature can move strings already measured.
Frequently asked questions
Which Sa should I choose for my sitar?
It depends on the instrument and musician. David Courtney lists C, C♯ and D as common pitch levels without prescribing one compulsory note. Set your Sa's sounding note and octave.
Does the tuner choose sympathetic notes for a raga?
No. It compares sound with the target you supply. The number and tuning of taraf vary; choose degrees appropriate to your instrument, school and raga.
What does capturing a reference do?
Capture recalibrates A4 from the first target in a string profile. In free mode, its anchor is the selected manual target, including during automatic detection. Check that note and octave before capturing.
Why does the display show another octave?
Other strings, resonance and harmonics can dominate the reading. Mute other sounds and play again. Do not tighten a string by a whole octave just to follow an unstable reading.