Frequently Asked Questions
What is Web Harmonium?
Web Harmonium is a free, browser-based Indian harmonium simulator. It lets you play a virtual harmonium using your computer keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or MIDI controller — no download or installation required.
Is Web Harmonium free to use?
Yes, Web Harmonium is completely free with no ads, no accounts, and no premium tiers. It is an open-source project.
What browsers are supported?
Web Harmonium works on all modern browsers that support the Web Audio API, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge. For the best experience, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox.
Can I use a MIDI controller?
Yes! Web Harmonium supports the Web MIDI API. Connect your MIDI keyboard or controller, and it will be detected automatically. MIDI support requires a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Opera).
What keyboard keys do I use to play?
White keys: Z, X, C, V, B, N, M (first octave) and Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U (second octave). Black keys: S, D, G, H, J (first octave) and 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 (second octave). Visit the Keyboard Shortcuts page for the full mapping.
What is Sargam notation?
Sargam is the Indian musical notation system, similar to Western solfege (Do Re Mi). The seven notes are: Sa (C), Re (D), Ga (E), Ma (F), Pa (G), Dha (A), Ni (B). Web Harmonium displays both Sargam and Western notation on each key.
Does it work on mobile devices?
Yes, Web Harmonium is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. You can tap the on-screen keys to play notes. For the best experience, use landscape mode on mobile devices.
Can I record my playing?
Yes! Use the Record button in the control panel to capture your playing session. You can play it back to review, and download the recording data for later use.
What is the Tanpura drone?
The Tanpura (or Tambura) is a long-necked string instrument that provides a continuous harmonic drone. In Web Harmonium, the built-in Tanpura feature creates a digital drone sound (Sa-Pa-Sa) to help you stay in tune while practicing.
Why do I need to click 'Start Playing' before I can play?
Modern web browsers require a user interaction (click or tap) before playing audio. This is a browser security feature to prevent websites from playing unwanted sounds. Once you click the Start Playing button, audio is enabled for the session.