Shruti Box Buying Guide: 440 Hz vs 432 Hz

How does a shruti box work?

A shruti box is a small wooden box with bellows on one side and a row of small sliders or buttons (note controls) on the other. Inside are brass reeds, one for each note. Open the notes you want, pump the bellows, and air flows over the open reeds to produce a steady, organ-like drone.

Unlike a harmonium, there is no keyboard. You don’t play melodies on it; it supports your voice or another instrument. Classical singers use it to stay on pitch during riyaz (practice). Kirtan and mantra singers use it as a meditative bed of sound, and sound healers use it alongside bowls and gongs.

Step 1: How many notes?

13 notes (one octave, C to C)

Most shruti boxes have 13 notes covering one chromatic octave: all twelve semitones from C to the next C. This lets you set a drone in any key. Open your tonic (Sa) and fifth (Pa), or tonic and fourth (Ma) for some ragas, and you’re ready.

RagaLoom’s 13-note models: – 15-Inch Teak Shruti Box – 13 notes, our most compact ($144) – 16-Inch Natural Teak Shruti Box ($159) – 16-Inch Golden Special, with white note controls and brass hardware ($169) – White Floral Teak Shruti Box, with decorative floral bellows ($159) – Eco wooden range in oak, cherry and natural teak finishes ($139–$159)

36 notes (three octaves)

A three-octave shruti box gives you the same twelve notes in three registers. Teachers working with different voice types (low male, high female, children) and advanced singers who want octave-doubled drones find this invaluable.

• 17-Inch Professional Three-Reed Shruti Box – 36 notes ($239)

Rule of thumb: For personal practice, 13 notes is enough. If you teach, sing in several registers, or want a richer, layered drone, go for 36.

Step 2: Size and portability

Larger boxes generally hold more air (fewer pumps) and give a deeper drone. Smaller boxes are easier to carry. All our shruti boxes come with a carry bag or gig bag.

Step 3: Wood and finish

Teak is the traditional choice: stable, durable and handsome. Our eco wooden range offers oak, cherry and natural-teak finishes at a lower price, with the same 13-note, 440 Hz specification. As with harmoniums, the brass reeds make the sound; the wood mainly affects durability and looks.

Step 4: Hands-free with a foot pedal

Want both hands free for clapping, playing kartal or holding a songbook? A foot pedal lets you pump the bellows with your foot.

• Wooden Shruti Box Foot Pedal, compatible with 16 × 12-inch models with a long wooden stand ($59). Please contact us before ordering so we can confirm it fits your shruti box.

Step 5: The big question: 440 Hz or 432 Hz?

What the numbers mean

“440 Hz” and “432 Hz” refer to the frequency of the note A above middle C. Every other note is tuned relative to it. A 432 Hz instrument is about 31.8 cents (roughly a third of a semitone) lower than a 440 Hz instrument.

Why 440 Hz is the standard

A=440 Hz has been the international reference pitch since the mid-20th century (ISO 16). Almost every piano, guitar tuner, keyboard, digital audio workstation, tanpura app and recording uses it by default. If your shruti box is at 440, it will: – match guitars, keyboards and harmoniums in a kirtan band – match tuner and drone apps without adjustment – match most recorded music you sing along with

Why some people choose 432 Hz

432 Hz is popular in some sound-healing, meditation and wellness communities. Supporters describe it as warmer or more relaxing. Be aware that claims about special healing or “natural” properties of 432 Hz are not backed by solid scientific evidence. The perceived difference is mostly that the instrument sounds slightly lower and darker. If you like the sound, that is a perfectly good reason to choose it, but it isn’t a medical one.

The practical downside of 432 Hz

A 432 Hz shruti box will sound out of tune next to any standard 440 Hz instrument: a harmonium, guitar, piano or backing track. You can’t fix this by changing which notes you open. A shruti box can’t be retuned at home; the reeds have to be filed by a technician.

Our recommendation

• Choose 440 Hz if you’ll ever play with other musicians, sing with recordings, use apps, or are unsure. This is the safe, flexible choice, and it’s the standard tuning of every RagaLoom shruti box.
• Consider 432 Hz only if you’ll use the shruti box alone or only with other 432 Hz instruments, and you specifically prefer that sound. RagaLoom shruti box listings are for 440 Hz. If you need a different reference pitch such as 432 Hz, contact us before ordering.

Step 6: Quality checks to look for

1. Air-tightness: The drone should hold steadily without hissing.
2. Reed response: Each note should speak quickly when opened, without buzzing.
3. Tuning accuracy: Check the notes against a tuner set to 440.
4. Smooth note controls: Sliders or buttons should open and close easily.
5. Bellows straps and latch: Check that they’re secure for carrying.

Every RagaLoom shruti box is checked before dispatch.

Step 7: Shruti box or harmonium?

If you want to play melodies, you need a harmonium. If you want a pure drone for singing or meditation, a shruti box is simpler, lighter and cheaper. Many musicians own both. Read the full comparison: Harmonium vs Shruti Box.

Our picks

• Best first shruti box: 16-Inch Natural Teak
• Best value: Eco Wooden – Oak Finish
• Best for travel: 15-Inch Teak
• Best for teachers: 17-Inch Three-Reed, 36 notes
• Most decorative: White Floral Teak or Golden Special

Shop all Shruti Boxes. We ship worldwide: see shipping & customs.

Shipping and returns

RagaLoom ships worldwide by FedEx/DHL. Shipping is a base rate for your country plus $25 per item, and customs duties and import taxes are paid by the buyer. See our shipping & customs page and returns policy.

Related guides and pages

• How Does a Shruti Box Work?: parts, notes and how to play.
• Buy a Shruti Box Online: shipped to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
• Drone and Meditation Instruments for Yoga and Mantra: drone instruments for yoga and mantra.