Harmonium for Kirtan Singers: Getting Started Abroad

If you have just started to sing kirtan, or you have been asked to lead a circle at your local yoga studio, temple or community hall, you will soon need a harmonium for kirtan of your own. For many singers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and the Gulf, buying from India online is the practical route. This guide explains what a kirtan singer needs from a harmonium, which features matter, and how to prepare for an order from abroad.

What the harmonium does in kirtan

Kirtan is call-and-response chanting, and the harmonium is its heartbeat. It holds the drone, carries the melody, and gives the group a steady pitch to follow. When you lead, you play a simple line under your voice, so you need an instrument that is easy to sit behind and strong enough to support a room of singers.

That is why kirtan players usually choose a harmonium with a fuller sound than a small student model. Our kirtan harmoniums collection groups the models that suit leading chant, and every one is handcrafted in India, tuned to A=440 Hz and checked before dispatch.

Features that matter to a kirtan singer

Range. More keys give you more room for melody and for moving between songs. Our larger models have 42 keys and 3½ octaves, such as the Extra-Height Mahogany Harmonium and the Extra-Height Dark Oak Harmonium. Standard models with 39 keys, like the Mahogany Standard Harmonium, are a step down in size.

Stops and drones. Stops open or close reed sets and let you shape the sound. Drone stops hold a continuous note under your playing. Our product pages list the stops on each model, from 7 on the standard models to 9 or 11 on others.

Coupler. A coupler links the octaves so that pressing one key sounds a second reed an octave away. It gives a bigger sound for a group, and many kirtan players like it.

Bellows. You pump the bellows with one hand while you play with the other. Smooth, even pumping keeps the sound steady through long chants.

Size and weight. A full-size harmonium sounds fuller but is harder to carry. If you move between studios, a folding model is easier to take with you. See our travel harmoniums, such as the Dark Oak Folding Traveler Harmonium, and our harmonium travel case page.

Getting started: your first weeks

You do not need to be a trained musician to begin. A simple plan works well:

1. Learn the keyboard layout and find your comfortable key for singing.
2. Practise slow, even pumping with your left hand.
3. Play a drone, then a simple melody line while you hum.
4. Add a short chant, and repeat it until your hands and voice work together.
5. Sit comfortably with the harmonium at a height that does not strain your shoulders.

If you are not sure which model to pick, read the harmonium buying guide for beginners and which harmonium is best. If you want a drone alongside, see harmonium vs shruti box.

Leading a group

When you sit down to lead, keep the playing simple. Play the melody lightly under your voice, hold a steady drone, and let the group follow your pitch. Start the chant a little slower than feels natural, so newcomers can join in, and raise the energy gradually. A harmonium that is comfortable to pump and easy to hear will let you concentrate on the singing instead of the instrument.

Buying from abroad: what to expect

RagaLoom ships from India to the countries listed on our shipping page. Orders go with FedEx/DHL. The shipping cost is a base rate for your destination plus $25 for each item. For example, a harmonium to the United States has a base rate of $20, and to the UK a base rate of $15, with the exact cost shown at checkout.

Customs duties and import taxes are not included in the item price or shipping cost, and the buyer pays them. For the full picture, read importing an Indian instrument: customs and duties explained. You can also look at the country pages for the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and the UAE and Gulf.

Our returns policy allows 30 days for orders under $600 and 10 days for orders of $600 or more. The buyer pays return shipping and customs. Please keep the original packaging safe if you may want to return the item.

When your harmonium arrives

It will have travelled a long way, so let it settle indoors for several hours before you open the box, longer if it arrived in freezing or very hot weather. Then unpack it carefully, remove all packing material, and check every key and stop. If a note is silent or a key sticks, contact us before trying to repair it. Our harmonium care guide covers humidity, dust and storage for any climate.

Make your choice

Browse all harmoniums, or visit the kirtan harmoniums collection if you are leading chant. If you need help choosing, email info@ragaloom.com or contact us on WhatsApp at +91 75033 59491.

Frequently asked questions