Keyboard Instruments

Introduction:

When researching the best harmonium brands I was surprised at all of the harmoniums available on the market to choose from. This made writing this article easy in many ways and difficult in others.

No matter how young or old you are, you can always begin to learn how to play an instrument or gain instruction on how to better care or upgrade your instrument.

There are several different types of harmoniums. Your preference in types might be linked with previous experience with other instruments or no true preference at all.

If you have no preference or are hoping to expand your knowledge of the instrument, perhaps understanding the history of the instrument and the various types of instruments will give you a better insight as to what you want, and hopefully inspire you to learn a different variation of the harmonium.

The goal of the article:

This article will inform you about the best harmoniums and the best harmonium brands you could buy or experiment with to your heart’s content!

We will take a look at the best harmoniums focusing mostly on style, some on-brand, as well as zero in on their features and benefits. Not all harmoniums are created equally as you will see and the features really matter in finding the best harmoniums.

What is a harmonium?

A harmonium is a reed instrument that creates sound when air is pumped through its bellows.

History of the Harmonium

At first glance, the harmonium might resemble a piano to you, if you are unfamiliar with it or what type of instrument it is. Its original design was just as bulky and cumbersome as the original piano or organ, luckily, the instrument has gone over several redesigns in the past few centuries.

Some sources suggest that the precursor to the harmonium, the free-reed organ was inspired by India’s mouth organ instruments. There is no definitive date on when the mouth organ instrument was created, however, the free-reed organ was created in 1770.

The harmonium instrument would not be created and legally patented until 1842, by a Frenchman–Alexandre Debian. The harmonium became especially popular and used frequently by those who could not afford to buy an organ e.g. small churches and private residences/homes.

Harmoniums were especially popular back in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because a person did not need electricity to play an instrument.

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Christian missionaries, especially, began bringing the instrument all over the world, as it was a great fit with devotional and gospel music.

It was during this time that Indians altered the harmonium–they redesigned the instrument so that you did not need to sit in a chair to play it e.g. got rid of the foot pedals. Its most common form is a medium-sized wooden box that you sit on the floor with, and use your hand to pump as you play it.

Several different versions of the harmonium were created, starting in the nineteenth century, and they stayed a very popular instrument until the electric organ was created sometime in the twentieth century.

Today, the harmonium remains a popular instrument in the eastern part of the world, mainly in India.

History of the Harmonium Overview

• Its creation was inspired by both India’s mouth organ instrument and the free-reed organ

• Became popular in use for those who could not afford to buy an organ instrument

• Its popularity increased due to it not needing electricity to be played

• Christian missionaries popularized its use around the world for evangelizing, starting in the mid-nineteenth century

• Native Indians redesigned the instrument so it would be less bulky e.g. got rid of the foot pedals and the necessity for a chair to play it; you play it sitting on the floor or anywhere else you choose

• Remains popular in India

Parts of a Harmonium

Keys:

Keys are one of the first things you notice when looking at a harmonium. These look similar to the keys you find on the piano because they are black & white.

Cover:

Harmoniums come with a cover. This is a very important feature that serves to protect the harmonium. It also mutes higher frequencies if there is a need for that.

Bellows:

Bellows are used to push air as well as make the sound you hear from a harmonium. They are two types 1. multi-fold or 2. two-fold.

Stops:

You see the stops on the front of a harmonium. These are called knobs that control the flow of air. There are two types of stops, 1. Drone Stops and 2. Main Stops.

Reeds:

A harmonium has metallic strips which are called reeds. These help to create the sound of a harmonium.

Coupler:

The final part that is important in creating a sound an octave apart is the coupler. When a key is pressed the couple enables the same key an octave higher to be pressed.

Parts Of Harmonium (Infographic):

Every part is important in producing the best harmonium brands.

Styles & Features

There are several features that you can choose to add to your harmonium. Some are not needed, so this is where previous experience, or newfound knowledge of the type of music that you want to play, is very helpful.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up with a harmonium with a feature that, at best, you don’t need and never use while you are playing your instrument.

There are two primary styles, Kolkata, or Calcutta, and Delhi.

Delhi Style

This is where beginners will start learning to play the harmonium. Overall this is the most frequently played harmonium for professionals as well. This is because of three primary reasons.

Budget:

Delhi harmonium is comparatively less expensive than Kolkata harmoniums and less expensive than other musical instruments in general. They will come in a range of $500 to $1000.

Design:

One of the reasons for the less cost is the simple design. They are light in weight as well as easy to take care of. For this reason, they are easy to travel with as well.

Sound:

Delhi harmoniums are heard in a diversity of music. This is due to its organ tone.

Specifications:

– Box Types: Standard & Collapsing

– Coupler(optional): right action, activated by wire mechanism located under keys

– Exterior Construction: Traditionally pine or kale softwood, sometimes teak

– Interior Construction: Softwood; sometimes composite or particleboard

– Key construction: One-piece.

– Length of Scale: 2 to 3.5 octaves, 25 -42 keys

– Reeds: Punjabi: various levels of quality

– Reed banks: 1 or 2, Brass, Male

– Reed orientation: Horizontal

–Scale changer: Not available

–Weight: 13-28 lbs.

Kolkata Style

These are quite different than Delhi Style harmoniums in almost every way including feel, sound, price, and how they look.

Budget:

A Kolkata Style harmonium costs in the range of $1200-$1800. The most expensive ones can cost a price of $3000.

Design:

They are sold in construction with an ornate intricate design you can only describe as beautiful. Their engineering is very detailed.

Sound:

Kolkata’s produce a full tone because they are built with three, and four sets of reeds. This allows them to play easily in different octaves.

Specification:

– Box Types: Standard & Traditional Collapsing

– Coupler: typical, left action, activated by wooden bars under the keys

 –Exterior Construction: Teak, quality varies.

– Interior Construction: Solid teak

– Key construction: Two-piece

– Length of Scale: 3 .3.75 octaves, 37-44 keys

– Reeds: Palitana; various levels of quality

–Reed banks: 3 or 4, Brass Male, Female

– Reed orientation: Horizontal / Vertical

–Scale changer: Available

– Weight: 32-48 lbs.

Harmonium Types

There are several different types of harmoniums e.g. standard and fold-up, and beyond that, there are different variations in harmoniums that can drastically alter their sound.

standard harmoniums:

The number of reed banks, type of reed banks, whether or not the harmonium has a coupler, stops, drones, and bellows make a difference.

The number of octaves and whether or not the harmonium has a scale changer also influence how the harmonium sounds. The quality of the wood that your harmonium is made out of can also make or break the sound of your instrument.

Sound Quality depends on the Quality of the woods

The most important feature that you have to make sure is completely correct is the type of wood your harmonium is made out of. If your harmonium is not made out of quality wood, then it will drastically alter the type of sound you are trying to create.

Harmoniums should be made out of quality wood. If you do not plan to move your harmonium around very often, it should be constructed in a heavier wood e.g. teak or mahogany. This type of wood will give it a resonant sound if that is what you are looking for.

If you plan to travel with your harmonium, then it should be made of pine or fir, which are lighter woods. That should make it easier for you to carry it around.

Standard harmoniums have two handles on either side and are the most commonly used harmoniums around the world.

Recommended Models:

Fold up harmoniums

This type of harmonium is designed and built specifically to make traveling with a harmonium a lot easier than with a standard harmonium.

There are two types of fold-up harmoniums–one type folds up into itself, with the bellows covering its top, and the other type folds into itself and has a separate lid to cover it. Generally, the latter type of harmonium is much more expensive and heavier than the former type of harmonium.

Recommended Models:

Harmonium Sound Features

The sound of the harmonium is affected by several different elements.

Number of reed banks

The number and type of reed banks it has, for one. Harmoniums can have either 1, 2, 3, or 4 banks of reeds and each reed bank has a totally different sound.

Type of reed banks

They have different names e.g. male, female, bass, and tenor. A different, unique mix of these reeds can be placed in each bank, which contributes to the harmonium’s unique sound. The more reed banks a harmonium has, the more unique its sound will be. However, this means that it will also be heavier.

Coupler

A coupler is used to connect one key to its higher or lower, yet corresponding key. It can play two octaves of a note at the same time, which can give it the sound of having more keys/reed banks than it actually has. However, you will have to pump more air into the instrument to utilize this.

Stops

Stops are a feature that allows you to put more air into the harmonium by turning large knobs. Essentially you use these to control how much air goes to each set of reed banks.

Drones

Drones are utilized by smaller knobs that you can use to hear a fixed note when you turn the knob. Generally, these notes are C, D, F, G, A, or a selection of all of them.

bellows

Harmoniums have external bellows–either 1, 3, 5, or 7 of them–while also having internal bellows. Some use the bellows as a way to control the instrument–having a greater number of them–but a proper pumping technique mitigates most of the troubles in that area.

Number of octaves

Because there are different variations of keys per every harmonium, the octave ranges also vary. Most harmoniums have a range of 3 to 3.5 octaves.

Scale changer

Lastly, a scale changer is used to shift your keyboard from left to right. Most harmonium players will never use this feature because most do not need to change keys will playing a piece of music. It is very delicate, so it is not recommended for those who travel often with their instrument unless specifically needed.

Harmonium Types Overview

• Standard
• Fold up
• Harmonium Sound Features
• Number of reed banks
• Type of reed banks
• Coupler
• Stops
• Drones
• Bellows
• Number of octaves
• Scale changer
• Quality of materials used

What are the best harmonium brands?

Here is a list of the best harmoniums by brand according to The Top 10 on the Indian website.

• 1. Kepler Harmonium: This is the top-selling harmonium on the Top 10 India website. A 9 Stopper, Chudidaar Bellow, 42 key, two reed, Baas Male, with Cover.

• 2. Khushi Musical: The second best-selling harmonium in the Top 10 India is a Folding (Portable) With Coupler 3.5 Octave 9 Stopper Rosewood.

• 3. Pal Music House: The third most popular selling brand in India.

• 4. Bajaj collection: Comes in #4 on India’s top-selling harmoniums

• 5. Bina: They are a legend in the harmonium industry. Known for using only the highest quality wood. It is able to produce harmoniums that deliver the best tone available. Their staff is top-notch overseeing all aspects of the manufacturing process.

• 6. Harmoniumwala Harmoniums: Makers of high-end Calcutta Harmoniums with designs and acoustics that rate at the top of the market.

• 7. Paul &Co. Harmoniums: Built for longevity using only the finest wood. Performers tout them for their durability and elegance.

• 8. Sharma Musical Store Harmonium: 8th best-selling brand.

• 9. Sur 0 Bani: # 9 on the list.

• 10. Singh &Sons: Rounds out the Top 10 best brands of harmoniums in India.

Other best harmoniums brands:

• Maharaja Musicals Harmoniums: With expert craftsmanship, they are able to deliver a quality product at a reasonable price.
• MKS Harmonium: A fourth-generation company originating in Kolkata, they specialize in all of the technical aspects of harmonium manufacturing.
• Daljit Dosanjh Harmonium: Higher quality and priced brands are available online from various retailers.

Recommended Models:

MAHARAJA MUSICALS

Are the best harmoniums only made in India?

The harmonium was first created in Europe, yet any harmonium you buy today will have been made in India. And within India, generally, the harmoniums are made in either Delhi or Kolkata.

Delhi style:

The Delhi style of the harmonium is one of the most popular styles, and it is what you will see the majority of people playing, whether they are professionals or beginners.

It is one of the best harmoniums to use because it is lightweight and easy to move around if needed. Its sound is very common, but is very dynamic and can be used to play all sorts of music e.g. folk songs, ambient, indie rock, etc.

Best of all, compared to other styles of harmoniums, this is relatively inexpensive to buy. It comes with 1 or 2 reed banks (bass and male) and a coupler. Its octave range is 2 to 3.5 octaves. It can weigh between 13 and 28 pounds.

Kolkata style:

The Kolkata style of the harmonium is very very different from the Delhi harmonium. This does not mean it is bad, or that it is the best harmonium instrument, but it is just different.

These are very solidly constructed and designed instruments and contain 3 or 4 sets of reed banks, which brings with it a wide octave range. The sound is very full and somber and are mostly used in Eastern music composition and styles, but can be adapted to suit Western music composition and styles as well.

The reed banks are either bass, female, or male. It comes with a scale changer and a coupler. Its octave range is 3 to 3.75 octaves. It can weigh between 32 and 48 pounds.

Delhi Harmonium Overview

• Most popular

• Lightweight and easy to travel with

• Easily adaptable to several different genres of music

• Comes with: 1 or 2 reed banks (bass and male), a coupler

• Octave range: 2 to 3.5 octaves

• Weight: 13 to 28 lbs

• Cost: $500 to $1,000 USD

Kolkata Harmonium Overview

• Very different and not as popular as the Delhi harmonium

• Made of heavier wood and not as easy to travel with

• Can adapt, with some doing, to western-style composition

• Comes with 3 or 4 reed banks (bass, female, male), a scale changer, and a coupler

• Octave range: 3 to 3.75 octaves

• Weight: 32 to 48 lbs

• Cost: $1,200 to $3,000 USD

What is the best quality harmonium brand to buy?

There is no “best” harmonium instrument, per se. There are preferences and there are those that you want to buy. For most people, beyond cost, what the harmonium will be used for dictates what type of harmonium they buy.

For Traveling

If you intend to travel often with your harmonium, then it would not be advisable for you to buy a Kolkata harmonium.

Considering the size

When it comes to size, you should also be aware of just what a “small” and “lightweight” harmonium actually means. This does not mean that the harmonium will be “easy” to transport–it just means that it will be “easier” to transport than it was before, with its traditional designs and materials.

When you decide to buy a “small” harmonium, you are making certain sacrifices in its sound quality.

Because you have bought a smaller harmonium, the bellows will not able to get as much air through the reed banks, which creates an “inferior” sound–inferior to what it could have been with a larger harmonium. This doesn’t mean it’s bad–just different.

Budget

You will also want to buy quality harmonium and that costs money. If you do not, then you run the risk of buying a cheaply made harmonium that cannot retain air, which means it cannot create decent sound.

Lastly, make sure you know what you are buying. Just because a harmonium is identified as “small” does not mean that it is. Make sure you know how much the harmonium you are buying weighs, particularly if you are wanting to travel with it.

Harmonium Brand Quality Overview

• Smaller harmoniums create a less complex sound

• Cheaper harmoniums cannot retain air, which is not conducive to quality music

• Always make sure to check the weight of your harmonium before you buy it

Conclusion:

Remember, the best harmonium is the high-quality harmonium that you buy, learn how to play, and experiment with!

No matter how old or young you are, it is never too late to learn how to play a new instrument, and the harmonium is perfect for those who are wanting to play a reed instrument but do not want to buy a piano–of which even the larger harmoniums (Kolkata) would be easier to move and travel with, if necessary.

There is no rush for you to choose which kind of harmonium you want, or how many of its features you need. Take your time–evaluate not only your budget (because you will need to buy a high-quality instrument unless you want to keep buying cheap harmoniums as they break down) but also your lifestyle and the type of music you want to play.

Are you interested in playing more western-style music? The Delhi harmonium is your best bet. But if you want to learn how to play traditional eastern-style music, then the Kolkata will be the best harmonium for you to buy–if you can afford it.

There are many factors that go into a decision, and it should not be taken lightly–you have all the time in the world to decide on the best harmonium instrument for you!

Introduction:

Are you looking for the best harmonium to buy? If yes, you are just in the right place. This article is just about to share some insights regarding everything you should know before you buy a harmonium instrument.

From elements that will constitute the best harmonium, to a detailed and clear buying guide, this article will ensure you get to buy the right harmonium fully suitable for you.

In addition, be very assured that this article will answer some of the popular queries that will often deter buyers from getting the best possible instrument.

Harmonium instruments are among the ancient musical instrument still very common in the current field of music. They are among the few instruments with a very lucrative benefit to the owner.

For this reason, the majority of them are very expensive from their high-quality materials and sounds. This fact should however not be an issue for a buyer who is more interested in quality.

This is because, unlike other musical instruments, the quality of sound produced by the harmonium will be in most cases determined by the price.

Therefore, often cheap harmonium will sound pathetic and vice-versa. For this reason, investing in the best harmonium might just be the best decision you are about to make.

To make sure you invest in the right harmonium, below are a few factors that as the player you should consider before the purchase.

What is the best harmonium to buy?

If you’re looking for some incredible considerations when Picking the best Harmonium to buy, you might choose this video:

Category :

Before purchasing a harmonium instrument, it will be very important to understand what category as a player you lie. The best musical instruments for a beginner may not be the best instrument for a professional player.

The difference in the specification and hence quality makes each harmonium unique and hence more suitable to a specific category. For this reason, learners are advised to focus on bigger harmoniums for the best outcomes. In the same way, a professional should have no business in purchasing a harmonium meant for beginners.

This way, the best harmonium instrument will be more suited to your category for maximum effectiveness while using the instrument.

Specifications :

Different harmonium instruments will also differ in terms of specifications. In the same way, before buying a harmonium instrument, understand the specifications you desire to ensure each is met.

The important specifications that will generally make a harmonium instrument best to purchase include size, shape, color, design, and bellows. I will expound on each of them.

1. Size:

The best harmonium instrument will be in the best and most convenient size for you. Generally, the sizes of the harmonium instrument will determine how portable the instrument will be.

If you are probably looking to travel and move around with your instrument, then, by all means, buy a harmonium instrument of the right size. This way, your movements are made easier and more convenient.

2. Shape

In the same way, the best harmonium instrument will be in the best shape, of course in regard to your preferences. Therefore make sure to take into account your preferences before you buy a harmonium.

In addition, go through the variety of shapes available for the best possible harmonium. Harmonium instruments will come in a variety of shapes e.g. the standard shape, and laptop shapes among many others. Take your time.

3. Design

The design or style of different harmonium instruments will also vary according to a number of factors like the brand. In most cases, the type of design will impact the price and the quality of sound produced by the harmonium instrument.

Consequently, ensure you choose a style that will only improve the quality of the sound and not the other way round. At the same time, ensure the cost is affordable and can be attained without having to strain too much.

4. Bellows

Bellows in any harmonium instrument will come as top folds or side folds. Basically, bellows are met to be played using the left hand.

However, there are players who will prefer to sing their right hand instead. This is also very normal. For this reason, the best harmonium instrument should ensure your desires are met regardless.

5. Color

The color will also be a specification a buyer can also consider to attain uniqueness and pleasure, especially when playing the instrument. Some brands may not have a color option but for sure you will not miss one that actually does.

Therefore, if you happen to be the type of player that finds fulfillment in color, the best harmonium instrument for you should be in the best possible color.

Having elaborated a number of key factors that would make a harmonium instrument best suited for you, the quest should not end there. There are other factors that will be equally very important.

For example, the player can either choose to buy online or in stores across the US. These decisions will have their own benefits and limitations at the same time. To assist you to make the best decision, below is a harmonium guide you should follow before you buy a harmonium.

A harmonium buying guide :

Brand

The brand is among the key elements that must never be ignored. Different brands will vary according to quality, price, and style, among other important factors that make the best harmonium instruments. For this reason, you must always be keen to pick the best dealer.

Generally, the best dealer will often guarantee the best harmonium instrument which is why we are all here. Therefore, take time to compare the different brands in the market and choose the best.

With the current high number of brands in the industry, picking a fake brand will be very easy. Whether willing to buy online or not, ensure you have a genuine dealer.

Most importantly, make sure the brand is well established and therefore is very skillful. As the manufacturer, the brand must be highly experienced and properly exposed for the best outcomes.

Different brands will also tend to use different materials for manufacture. Know the best and the most popular materials in the industry to ensure your harmonium’s quality is at its best. In the same way, pick the brand with the best construction materials and design.

Recommended Brands:

BINA:

Maharaja Musicals:

Queen Brass:

Generic :

Shipments

Harmonium instruments are generally, very fragile and must be handled with a lot of care, especially during the shipping process. Shipping is common especially if you buy harmonium online.

Even the slightest mishandling can cause huge losses to you as the player. This will also be a huge inconvenience to you having spent soo much money to purchase the best harmonium instrument.

Although some brands will be willing to handle any damages, others will not. To prevent this and evade any extra payments just to ensure your instrument is insured, buyers prefer to buy harmonium in USA stores instead. This way, they can actually drive the instrument themselves back home. Through this approach, buyers can carefully handle the instrument and hence avoid any damage to the instrument.

Website

The website of the store, whether online or physical, will also have a huge role to play. You will require the website to be informative enough to the buyer and be willing to communicate with you in case of any clarifications needed. From the website, a buyer can also clearly tell how genuine the dealer is and how the quality of the instruments are.

Therefore, particularly when trying to buy a harmonium online, make sure the website is clear enough and most importantly up to date. In most cases, websites that lack these elements must be avoided at all costs. This must also apply if you wish to buy a harmonium in USA stores.

Reviews

Look for reviews on the harmonium instrument you want to buy. Go through a number of them and then weigh how effective the instrument has been to the different buyers.

Generally, good reviews will confirm the instrument is genuine and will be just effective for you. You can also tell the quality of sound by just going through the review. In addition, this is where you will get to learn a few cons of the instruments at hand. In other words, good reviews will often translate to a good reputation, which will also be very important.

Therefore, take into consideration any negative review you find about your instrument. Do not ignore them.

Conclusion:

Buying a harmonium instrument is clearly not an easy and straightforward process. This process will involve a lot more other than just getting to the store and purchasing the instrument.

The instrument is an investment and therefore enough time and money must be spent to attain the best harmonium instrument. The prices of such instruments will be generally high but remember you get what you pay.

Nevertheless, you must always ensure the price is reasonable for you. You will need to avoid any financial concerns after the purchase.

The best harmonium to buy must, therefore, attain all your expectations as the player. Being the player, you will be the most affected by whether the instrument is good for you or not. Therefore, remember to consider all areas according to only your preference.

The brand of the harmoniums will also have a very huge role to play. Generally, almost all aspects mentioned in the article revolve around the dealer.

Being the source of the harmonium instruments, the brand, therefore, ends up affecting most factors and elements that will make a good harmonium. For example, the brand will determine the mode of shipping and the prices of the different harmoniums. In addition, the specifications of different harmoniums will vary according to the brand.

I hope my harmonium buying guide was helpful and informative enough. I know believe you have what it takes to buy the best harmonium for the best possible results.

Introduction:

A harmonium is also known as a ”pump organ” is a keyboard instrument. It originated in Europe and is highly popular in Indian music. The harmonium is one of the most respected instruments in Indian music. The rising popularity of harmoniums has created interest from people around the world. Before we know the answer to the question “how to select a good harmonium?” we have to know the origin of the harmonium.

origin of the harmonium:

You may be surprised to know that India was not the origin of the harmonium. It was first invented in Europe by Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein who was a professor of physiology at Copenhagen.

It grew an immense amount of popularity in churches and private homes because they could not afford expensive organs. Due to the different versions available, the harmonium’s popularity continued to grow throughout the 19th century.

They required no electricity, which allowed them to be a great fit for travel. The harmonium was first introduced to South India by Portuguese missionaries. The missionaries wanted to conduct their weekly prayers on Sunday morning, but couldn’t carry their organs around.

After it was introduced, it also became popular with Indian musicians for its simplicity and portability. Although the harmonium was initially a western instrument, the east made it their own and it became a staple of their culture.

most common features:

Now that the origins are covered, it’s important to know the most common features when deciding on how to select good harmoniums.

Harmoniums come in several parts. Keys, bellows, drones, stop, coupler, and reeds.

STOPS:

Stops also known as knobs, are larger than drones and are in the front of the harmonium. They provide an opening and closing of airflow into the air chambers.

DRONES:

Drones are the smaller knobs. They play a fixed note but can also be customized to the musician’s choice.

REEDS:

Reeds come in 3 different octaves: bass, male and treble. Bass is the lowest, male reeds are a bit higher and treble reeds are an octave higher.

BELLOWS:

Bellows are needed to pump air into the harmonium. It usually comes in 2- fold, 3-fold, or 7-fold. But the fancier harmoniums have 7-fold.

OCTAVE COUPLER:

Octave couplers add an octave to notes, this helps with adding volume to your music.

How To Select Good Harmonium: Top Ten Tips

Before someone purchases a harmonium it’s important to first learn the different types. There are several techniques that musicians use when they’re deciding how to select a good harmonium.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HARMONIUM:

There are ways to ensure that you pick out a proper harmonium that fits your needs. Different types of harmonium brands give musicians various options to choose from.

However, many people don’t quite understand what to look for in a harmonium. So, here are 10 considerations to review whether you’re a beginner or a regular player:

1. PORTABILITY

Portability should be considered before making an investment in a harmonium. There are 2 different general types of harmoniums, non-portables, and portables. Non-portables are called stand-up or upright harmoniums and their box is just a single box, that doesn’t change shape.

However, portable harmoniums also known as collapsible are made of 2 boxes, an inner box, and an outer box. They collapse into a smaller sort of briefcase shape.

2. RANGE

Some harmoniums have just 2 1/2 octaves of range on the keyboard. Some have 3 1/2 and others may have more. The average harmonium is around 3 octaves.

Therefore, a 2 1/2 octave harmonium should be fine for beginner players. It will also be adequate for people who play the harmonium regularly.

3. FANCY HARMONIUMS

It’s important to not get blindsided by fancy harmoniums. There are some harmonium makers that put unnecessary special features on them. Most professional musicians won’t use these features.

So, beginners who are just starting out would be tempted to purchase this type of harmonium. It’s easy to be fooled into thinking that it is of better quality and has more value because of all the added features. This includes a scale changer.

Some people like it, but most people don’t actually use a scale-changing mechanism. It may also come with tons of buttons called,” stops” that serve different functions. Some of them you just open up to allow air into the bellows.

The other smaller buttons open up drone notes. More buttons/knobs don’t mean better. It’s important to choose based on what you need and will use.

4. REEDS

Take into consideration how many sets of reeds the harmonium has. There are harmoniums that have just a single set of reeds that sound very thin.

However, most harmoniums have 2 sets of reeds, a low set, and a high set. They’re played simultaneously, so they blend together to provide a rich sound. This is what most players use because it sounds great.

There are other harmoniums with 3 sets and even 4 sets of reeds to provide a bigger, louder, and fuller sound. More reeds would generally make the harmonium a lot heavier and less portable.

5. INSTANT KEYBOARD RESPONSE

If you’re testing out several different brands of keyboards, you’ll notice that some brands have a lag time when pressing a key on the keyboard. So even if you have already primed the keyboard there still might be a lag. In a quality harmonium, it should not take time to get the sound, it should be instant.

6. GOOD SUSTAIN

You want your harmonium to be able to maintain a nice even sound. Different types of harmonium brands have a variety of sounds. It should sound even unless there are leaks in the bellows. Sometimes this may happen because they’re shipped from India, so various parts of the harmonium could be uneven.

7. REPUTABLE STORE

Sometimes they’ll come from India in various states of disrepair. So, the stores that sell it to you are importing it and getting it in good condition before you purchase it.

Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that the store is reputable and that they’re doing good repair work. Also, if you’re getting one shipped from an online store, it may have minor problems such as buzzing reeds.

Occasionally, you’ll receive a harmonium with the key sticking down or a buzzing reed. These are quite easy to fix, but you’ll need the store that you ordered it from to talk you through it over the phone. It could take a little time to get fixed, which is why you need a reputable store to walk you through the process if it happens.

8. JOLLY

Often you’ll see on the top of a harmonium, a glass jolly. Jolly is a Hindi word that means window, it’s removable and it serves as a baffle or a mute. That’s where the sound is coming out of the reeds.

The jolly’s objective is to mute the sound or even it out so that it isn’t blasting out of the reeds. However, if you desire to play a lot louder you can always remove the jolly. Some harmoniums also have a wooden jolly with similar mechanisms.

9. ENJOY THE SOUND

Whether you are a beginner player or someone who’s more experienced, it’s important to love the sound of your instrument. Do you like the tone of the harmonium? Sounds and tones often change and sound different depending on the brand that you’re using.

If you go to an actual store and make a purchase, listen to several harmoniums and you’ll hear the differences and fluctuations of tones.

10. TUNE

Making sure that the harmonium is in tune is an important consideration. A-440 is the international standard for tuning. It’s a certain pitch that all instruments in some way or another reference. An interesting fact is, a couple of centuries ago before American musical standards became the international norm, British standards were applied.

In Britain, they were using a standard of A-444, a different tuning frequency, and reference. So when harmoniums came from Britain, by missionary shops to India, the Indians liked them and started manufacturing them.

Some manufacturers keep A-440 and others may use A-444. Also, Indian manufacturing is not a very standardized and consistent process. If you’re not sure about the harmonium tuning, then it’s important to ask the store to make sure that you’re getting A-440 tuning.

PROBLEMS

Sticky keys, rattling noises, and buzzing reeds are some of the most common problems with harmoniums. If you hear a rattling noise, it’s usually on the top cover. Removing the cover could help it go away.

If there are buzzing notes then something may be stuck between the reed and its frame causing the buzzing sound. To test if you have a leaky bellow, you can squeeze them gently until there is a little resistance.

When you’re squeezing the bellows and don’t feel any resistance, then there might be a problem. Beginners should ask lots of questions to ensure that they’re getting a high-quality product. Also, it’s a smart idea to get your harmonium tuned at the store to prevent future issues.

Additionally, you should bring a picture and a description of your ideal harmonium. Although there are some problems that you can fix on your own, there are also problems that you will need assistance with.

Most importantly, if you’re having problems with your harmonium and are not sure how to fix it, take it to a professional. Take it back to the store that you purchased it from. If you made the purchase online, then find a reputable store to help you or return the harmonium.

Harmonium Comparisons:

Before choosing your desired harmonium, make sure that you check out prices from different locations and choose the correct brand that is right for you. Since modern harmoniums are built in India it’s good to compare the two regional styles of harmonium construction.

DELHI STYLE HARMONIUM:

 • The Delhi-style harmonium is quite inexpensive compared to other musical instruments.

 • It’s one of the most popular harmonium brands. You can use them if you’re a beginner or intermediate player.

 •It has a lightweight and portable design that is easy to maintain

 • It has a dynamic tone that can be used to play many different styles of music like folk, indie, ambient, etc.

 •Has an affordable price around the range of $500-1000

KOLKATA STYLE HARMONIUM:

• The design is very detailed and solidly constructed.

• It has 3-4 reed sets that play across a broad range of octaves, producing a full tone.

• The complex engineering, more labor, and material make this the least affordable option.

•The price is no less than $1200 and even higher quality is around $1800.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, this was helpful and you’d be able to find some clarity and understand how to select good harmoniums. With its rich cultural background, variety of styles, and affordable prices, it’s no wonder why the harmonium is a popular instrument.

There are plenty of choices to choose from and brands offering different features to fit each musician’s needs. When proper research is done, both beginners and experienced players will enjoy the fulfillment that the harmonium can bring.

Introduction

A harmonium is defined as a small kind of reed organ. For centuries the harmonium has provided a calming soft sound that has been used for a variety of reasons.

These include everything from religious settings and music for festivals or events, to an individual musician playing for the challenge and personal enjoyment it brings to them. This is made possible thanks to the many different parts of the harmonium.

The sound a harmonium brings is unlike anything else in existence. When you hear it you feel you are being transported to another place and time.

When looking at a harmonium you quickly realize there are many components that go into making this incredible sound. Unlike other instruments such as a piano, horn, or reed instrument the harmonium is fairly complicated and requires precise use of many parts.

This got me thinking about what are all of the parts that go into making a harmonium. How did we get where we are today and what did a harmonium use to sound like and how was it made?

In this article, we will look at parts of a harmonium to get a better understanding of what makes up this amazing instrument. To do that we will look back at how construction was in the beginning to how it has evolved to where it is today.

To understand the sound we need to understand the parts of a harmonium and how they are constructed to create the unusual sound only a harmonium can make.

History Of Harmonium

Over the years the harmonium has changed in appearance and the way it is built. This has also changed the way it is played.

You may be surprised to learn the harmonium did not originate in India. It was invented in Europe by Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein who was a professor of physiology at Copenhagen.

At the time this was the first reed free instrument in the western world and won him a prize from the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg in 1780.

Churches in Europe were quick to catch on to its use because of the size. A harmonium is much smaller than an organ and easier to move from one location to another because of its weight and how it is constructed.

Because of its size and parts used back then it was less expensive to build than a pipe organ. This led to a large market of buyers from chapels and churches.

Harmonium Construction

The harmonium is made from one up to six sets of reeds. It is called a free-reed instrument because there are no pipes like you find in a pipe organ.

Although it is a keyboard instrument it is constructed in a way where metal reeds are screwed in place over slots in a metal frame. Foot-operated bellows cause vibration through the metal frames creating the sound you hear.

Sound production

The sound is determined by the size and number of reeds and sound chambers used in the construction of the harmonium. How it is being used determines the number of reeds required to build it.

For example, a classical sound normally uses one reed whereas an Islamic devotional singing would find a musician using a 3 reed harmonium.

It sounds like a complicated instrument to construct because it is. There is a precision required to create the exact sound a harmonium makes.

Harmonium construction is a process. Each par is added to create what has become a popular instrument today.

A bank of brass reeds is put into each harmonium. These are metal tongues that vibrate as air passes over them.

The keyboard includes a pump as well as drones that are used as stops. When you see a harmonium it may look like an accordion, but it is different in how it is made.

This is how it is described technically. Instead оf thе bellows саuѕіng a dіrесt flоw оf thе air оvеr thе rееdѕ аn еxtеrnаl feeder bеllоwѕ.

Design & Features

Thе dеѕіgn іѕ vеrу ѕіmіlаr tо bаgріреrѕ. It аllоwѕ thе harmonium tо аlѕо сrеаtе a sound that is соntіnuоuѕlу sustained.

In a two-reed harmonium, a ѕесоnd ѕеt оf reeds can аlѕо bе асtіvаtеd bу a stop that mеаnѕ each kеу рrеѕѕеd will рlау both of them.

Three reed harmoniums are used professionally. They can be tuned an осtаvе hіghеr, оr in unіѕоn tо thе middle rееd to make the sound seem more full.

Some hаrmоnіumѕ also feature an осtаvе соuрlеr. This ореnѕ a vаlvе fоr a nоtе to be played an octave above or below the note played.

Another interesting feature that some harmoniums have is a mechanism that allows the musician to change the scale in the note being played in.

Parts Of Harmonium

A harmonium has a number of different parts that are dependent on each other to create the desired sound. Let’s look closer at these now.

1. Body:

The box where all of the parts are built is known as the body. There are two styles, one in a fixed position and one that collapses.

Collapsible harmoniums pack easier into a case because they collapse taking up less space. These come in various styles depending on what your needs are and the price you want to spend.

2. Bellows:

These are the pumps. Depending on the type of harmonium there will be a side pump bellow or a top pump bellow.

These are also called internal or external bellow. The location is dependent on the hinge being used.

External bellows are the most common. They are pumped by hand.

When pumping the external bellow it forces air into the internal bellow where it is held. Once the internal bellow pushes against a spring the air is forced over the reeds. We will go into more detail on harmonium bellow construction below.

3. Keys:

The musician plays these similar to a piano or accordion.

There are white and black keys. Unlike a piano with 88 keywords, a harmonium has a different number of keys depending on the style being built. A piano has 7 octaves whereas a harmonium only has three.

There are two different styles of keyboards in a harmonium.

A. Horizontal pivot pin style:

These keyboards were more common in an older style and scale changer harmoniums.

B. Vertical pivot pin style:

These are more common in portable harmoniums today. The pins move in a vertical motion when pressed by the fingers. This allows the reeds to vibrate as two holes are uncovered when the key is played.

C. Action adjustment screws:

Unlike a piano, you can make adjustments to how the keys play depending on how you want them to feel.

D. Key bounce:

Overtime keys will naturally stick leaving them with a continuous sound. To adjust the key bounce you have to adjust the spring.

When you play a key and press the bellows, it should release quickly and the note should stop. If not an adjustment is needed and this is when you may need a professional.

E. Scale changer:

It is interesting in a scale changer harmonium, the keyboard can be moved right or left three keys by lifting a lever on the front. A performer will still play in the key of “C”, but the sound can be transposed into A, Bb, B or C#, D or Eb.

4. Cover:

This is a piece of wood that covers the actual components of the harmonium.

Some come protected with glass or cloth. Covers are expensive to replace. The cover is important as it serves two purposes.

A. Protect the harmonium from damage.

B. Muting the sound.

Some harmoniums have a panel that slides so you can mute a higher frequency and allow a lower frequency through.

5. Main stops:

These are the valves that control how the air flows into the harmonium reed chambers.

Most harmoniums have one stop for each reed chamber. In some instances, they may have more than one. If so it is often to serve a special purpose such as the pitch that comes from playing a note quickly.

Some harmoniums are built with stops that serve no purpose. Indian musicians tend to open all stops when they play as they feel there is no need for them.

6. Drone stops:

These are most common on Indian harmoniums. They stop airflow over reeds that are not keyed.

They are called drone stops because they drone their pitch. Drones can be set for any pitch. You see them set most commonly on A sharp, C sharp, D sharp, F sharp, and G sharp.

7. Handles :

Harmoniums are easy to carry around thanks to handles. A box-style harmonium has two handles and a suitcase-style harmonium has one.

8. Reeds:

These are also referred to as metal tongues. Harmoniums come with 1, 2, 3, or 4 banks of reeds. These come with a different sounds referred to as male, female, bass, or tenor.

Each key must have at least one reed while it is more common to see sets of two or three. Reeds are made of brass and set into a brass base. They vibrate as air passes over them producing a sound.

9. Coupler:

A key located an octave above the key being played is known as a coupler. It is called a mechanical arrangement because is produces a fuller sound than when the key is played by itself. The performer enables or chooses not to use this coupler.

10. Scale changers:

This is another mechanical arrangement allowing the whole keyboard to be lifted up or down.

The benefit is you can transpose from one key to another without changing the keys you are playing. Once you learn one key you can play in any key. This has pretty much-eliminated sales of scale-changing harmoniums which had a high failure rate anyway.

11. Reed board:

This is basically a piece of wood with holes.

Long holes are cut into the board and covered by the brass reeds. The reeds are arranged normally in a single, double, or triple bank.

A double-banked is known as a double reed harmonium. A triple bank is called a triple reed harmonium and is more expensive. It is considered to be the top harmonium. The board is set in a perpendicular baffle but can be flat.

Parts Of Harmonium (Infographic):

Harmonium Bellows Construction

Bellows pump air into the harmonium. As you can imagine this makes their construction critical.

There are two sets of bellows, one internal and one external. They are constructed to have 1, 3, 5, or 7 folds.

Some musicians feel the higher the number of bellows the easier the harmonium is to control. Others feel the way you pump the bellows is the key.

Bellows can be opened on the top or on the side. This is more of a personal preference as opposed to the way the sound comes out.

Some top open bellows require more air and take more strength to play. Side pumping bellows have a softer pumping action and can be easier to play. Adjusting the spring is a way to make it easier to pump.

Conclusion

As you can see there are many parts of a harmonium. Each is reliant on the other to create the desired sound for the musician playing it.

Playing the harmonium takes a skill that comes from many hours of practice. It is worthwhile to listen to Indian music to get a feel for what a harmonium should sound like.

Always play a key when pumping the bellows. Use your strong hand to play the keys and your weak hand to pump the bellows.