Choosing the Right Harmonium

In an effort to only bring the best quality instruments to its customers the level of harmonium should not be considered a defining factor of the quality of the instrument.

All harmoniums are made to the highest standards, meanwhile the functionalities vary within each level to better cater the different needs of our customers.

	Basic Harmonium $449.99 Sale Price: $419.63, You Save $30.36 Ideal for the novice musician looking for a basic harmonium without all the bells and whistles. The basic harmonium is made of excellent quality Kehl wood and houses a 3.25 octave keyboard with 5 stops and 2 drones. The 2 bellow chambers allow for a semi-constant flow of air into the harmonium.
	Kehl Harmonium $524.99 Sale Price: $508.22, You Save $16.77 Adding some very useful features to the Basic harmonium the Kehl harmonium is ideal for a musician looking for a harmonium with key elements such as a coupler a larger keyboard (3.5 octave) and more drones (4 drone knobs). Furthermore the multiple bellows allow for superb control and consistency over the steadiness of sound.
	Portable Kehl Harmonium $574.99 Sale Price: $556.42, You Save $18.57 Conveniently take your harmonium with you wherever you go. The harmonium is a heavy instrument (some models weighing up to 30 lbs), yet delicate at the same time. This portable version of the Kehl harmonium adds portability to the harmonium by creatively housing the harmonium in a suitcase like box on the outside. The harmonium sits in a wooden cavity from which it can be pulled out while in use. After use the harmonium collapses back into the cavity and a wooden enclosure covers the top part forming a suitcase like shape. A cushioned handle further makes the harmonium ultra portable.
	Teak Harmonium $649.99 Sale Price: $616.44, You Save $33.55 With the majority of the harmonium made of wood the type of wood plays a great role in the overall sound of the harmonium. The dense Teak wood is known to add a rich undertone to the harmonium. This harmonium is made for the serious musician who wants to be in control of the sound coming from their harmonium. The 3.5 octave keyboard, the premium teak wood, 5 stops air control, 4 drone option, a coupler and multiple side bellows all put the control in the players hand and give you unltimate control over the harmonium.
	Portable Teak Harmonium $799.99 Sale Price: $744.34, You Save $55.65 Unmatched on all levels the Portable Teak Harmonium is a perfect harmony between portability, durability and richness of sound. This harmonium is specifically designed for the serious musician who plans to add portability while mainting a high level of control on the sound coming from their harmonium. The 3.5 octave keyboard,premium teak wood, 5 stops air control, 4 drone option, a coupler,multiple side bellows, Teak wood encasing and a cushioned carry handle all make this the ultimate harmonium for any musician looking to own the best that's out there.
	NAGI Scale Changing Harmonium $849.99 This 9 scale – Scale changing harmonium was specially manufactured in Calcutta to meet the high standards of a Hindustani classical singer. The harmonium produces a sweet melodious sound and offers the player a coupler option along with 5 pitch knobs and 4 drone knobs. The main harmonium collapses into a compartment and transforms into a suitcase while traveling. This feature ensures safety and portability since these harmoniums tend to be on the heavy side due to their intricate construction. This harmonium is ideal for any singer type, whether it be a young child or an experienced singer. The 9 scales allow the harmonium to be versatile and be the perfect accompaniment, no matter what your singing scale is. Simple move the entire scale by sliding the scale changer knob into one of the 9 grooves and you will find the perfect match for your voice. The harmonium is also a gem aesthetically with beautifully hand crafted designs and dark red wood. The harmonium case is solid wood and resistant to acceptable levels of wear and tear.

About Dhol Etc. Harmoniums

The Harmonium, although not originating from India, is a major instrument within the Indian music scene. Whether it is within a classical, folk, or pop setting, the harmonium plays a significant role. Due to this importance, manufacturers have consistently modified and adapted the instrument to suit the needs of Indian music while still maintaining its integrity. Hence, choosing the right harmonium means understanding your specific needs, and becoming familiar with the technicalities of the operation of the instrument and the subtleties of the sound it produces.

Keeping this in mind, DholEtc strives to not only provide musicians with a wide array of instruments to serve a variety of needs, but also to educate visitors to the site of these elements. To this end, DholEtc offers only harmoniums which have approval from some of the greatest of today’s musicians, and to which the highest care has been taken by manufacturers to ensure quality products in terms of precision and sound quality. Whether the setting is religious or classical, whether the music is qawaali, ghazal, pop, or folk, and whether the setting is formal or informal, these harmoniums have proven themselves to be the best in the industry.

Here are some great reasons to help you decide on Harmoniums from DholEtc:

• Our harmoniums are made by the original manufacturer, no imitations, no middlemen, and are set to universally accept musical standards, and time honored standards of quality. Additionally, DholEtc imposes our own vigorous protocols to ensure only the finest instruments.
  
  
• We ONLY procure harmoniums from manufacturers who have been manufacturing musical instruments for a long time and thus have the experience and reputation to stand by their products.
  
  
• We take every possible precaution to ensure the harmoniums reach you in the same condition as if you were buying them from the craftsmen themselves. As harmoniums are delicate yet very heavy, we go to great lengths to ensure the packaging provides the fullest protection possible. With DholEtc, packaging and shipping are never a cause of worry.
  
  
• Each harmonium is thoroughly tested multiple times for quality. In fact, the owner of the manufacturing company personally checks each harmonium for precision before sending it to us.
  
  
• Frequently, within countless musical contexts, one will mainly see NAGI instruments being used. As such, the NAGI brand is used almost exclusively in religious institutions (Gurudwaras, Mandirs, etc.) all across India. Also, numerous famous musicians from all over the Indian subcontinent attest to their quality through their use of the NAGI brand.
  
  
• As popularity follows quality, NAGI manufacturers place their primary emphasis on quality, with popularity being a secondary concern. For this reason they focus on excellence rather than reputation. Ironically and understandably, since popularity comes as a consequence of distinction, their instruments have become the instrument of choice among musicians in Gurudwaras and Mandirs across the world. NAGI is dedicated to superiority and serving a discriminating clientele.

Who is NAGI?

• As part of our promise of quality to you, we have done extensive research and traveled to all parts of India to bring you the highest and best quality instruments. NAGI has proven to be one of those manufacturers worthy of international exposure due to their high quality instruments.
  
  
• Have you heard of NAGI instruments? If not, don’t let that deter you. NAGI is a family of music instrument makers who are dedicated to making the best instruments possible. They take great pride in their work and stand by each instrument that leaves their shop. Rather than being marketing experts, they are content to let their work speak for them.

Why NAGI?

• For those of you who have experienced any type of Indian musical performance, or are frequent visitors to Gurudwaras or Mandirs, you have most likely already heard and seen the NAGI name. They are synonymous with great quality.
  
  
• NAGI has been providing quality musical instruments and Bhangra accessories to their dedicated customers for decades. Anyone with a NAGI instrument only has praises for the craftsmanship and precision that goes into each it. Everything from their Tablas, to their Dhols, to their Harmoniums, etc., is renowned for its eminence in the field of Indian music.
  
  
• If you wonder why you have never heard the brand “NAGI” even though you have been a musician for a long time, consider that NAGI is a family run business of music instrument lovers who keep very busy ensuring each instrument leaving their store is tested on all measures for the best quality. This dedication to quality does not leave much time for them to launch a huge marketing campaign. We are very fortunate to be able to bring the international audience instruments manufactured by this small shop of highly trained craftsmen.

Parts of the Harmonium

One of the most influential and well established instruments in Indian classical music, the harmonium’s popularity can be credited to its ease of use and universal sound. Comparable to the accordion, the harmonium is a wind instrument that came into India through the West via British rule. Today, the harmonium is almost synonymous with Indian classical music and is once again gaining popularity in the rest of the world.

The harmonium utilizes a set of reeds to channel air that is pumped by the player through a set of bellows. While mastery over the harmonium like any other musical instrument can take a lifetime, playing the harmonium is as easy as pressing keys with one hand and pumping air into the instrument with the other. Anyone who has played an accordion a piano or any keyboard instrument is able to play the harmonium with ease.

Here is a glossary of terms to help you better understand the different parts of a harmonium and a guide to help you select the ideal harmonium for you.

Wood: All traditional harmoniums are dominantly made of wood (the reeds, knobs and other functional parts are made of various types of metals). While the metal used is not essential to the overall sound, the type of wood is important. Most entry level harmoniums are made of Pine wood while higher end harmoniums are made with Teak wood.

Keyboard: The keyboard houses keys (like a piano) which produce varying notes when pressed down individually or in conjunction with each other. The number of keys varies on different models of harmoniums with the number increasing in higher end models. They number of keys also determine the octaves of the harmonium and translate as follows:

• 2.5 octave = 30 keys
• 3 octave = 39 keys
• 3.5 octave = 42 keys
• Scale Changer = Typically a 3 octave harmonium with 4 notes up or down shifting on a 9 scale harmonium. Note shifting increases relatively in an 11 scale and 13 scale harmonium.

Bellow: The lungs of the harmonium. The bellows are a set of compressible cardboard chambers which are attached within two pieces of wood. During play the player expands and closes the bellows to fill air into the harmonium. Their steady expansion and closing allows a steady flow of air to enter the harmonium with each pump, and gives the harmonium its subtle and continuous sound. The number of bellows increases from lower to higher end models of the harmonium. The bellows usually range between 2 to 7. One can tell the number of bellows a harmonium has by counting the number of cardboard collapsible components held within the two pieces of wood.

Stops/Large Knobs: These large knobs allow for the entry of air into the chambers of the harmonium. While not all harmoniums have knobs, it is important to open these knobs (usually by pulling them out) to allow air to enter the chambers for sound to be produced. Excessive pumping without opening these knobs can result in damage to the harmonium. The extent of the knob pulled, and the number of knobs reflect how much air is allowed into the harmonium and thus its loudness. For a melodious, reverberating sound, partially open only 1 knob.

Drones/Small knobs: The drones allow the player to open a steady note in the harmonium, hence producing sound without even pressing any keys. As a major element of Indian classical music is the continuous drone, the drones are integral and a uniquely Indian adaptation. As such, the drones serve as a constant humming sound if the musician wants to concentrate singing to a single note, or even playing a tune encompassing that note. Different drones produce different tones, and the number of drones varies between different levels of harmoniums.

Coupler: Available in some harmoniums, the coupler is an added function. When activated automatically, the coupler plays the pressed key in a different octave. Since the harmonium player has only one hand at their disposal, the coupler is useful for those who might want to press two keys in different octaves at the same time.