Learn the Harmonium

Thanks for checking out this little corner of my website! Whether you heard the harmonium for the first time recently or you already have a chanting practice, I hope you’ll find some resources (free and paid) here to assist you on your journey to chanting.

I am a self taught harmonium player (with a piano playing background) here to share some resources so you have some starting points. Whether you are a beginner seeking basic instruction or here to learn some new chants and melodies, there might be something here for you!

Where do I find a harmonium?

Internet: I found my first harmonium on Craigslist and paid $350 USD in 2018. My advice: ask the seller for a video of the harmonium before making any trips. You can tell so much from a smartphone video—watch out for squeaking, air leaking breathy sounds, and buzzing—while they are repairable, the are in need of repair.

Musician’s Mall: If you’re in the Bay Area in California, it may be worthwhile to make a trip to Berkeley. There are many models available for you to try.

Ragamala Peti: This is my tried and true harmonium (pictured to the right). This is a 12-lb (5.4 kg) compact model designed to travel and costs around $1,000 USD (2024). Last I checked, pickups are in Sunnyvale, California.

FREE RESOURCE

Harmonium Playlist

I have shared 10 of my favorite chants on YouTube. The videos are filmed top down so you can see where to put your fingers. Each chant is repeated 3x, a great way to learn the melodies and/or play along with your harmonium.

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Sheet Music

There is a companion e-book of sheet music with 10 chants that accompany the YouTube playlist. Sheet music includes translation, lyrics (phonetic), and chords.

  1. Aham Prema

  2. Asatoma

  3. Bija Mantra (Chakras)

  4. Gayatri Mantra

  5. Guru Mantra + Om Hari Om

  6. Heart Sutra

  7. Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

  8. Purnamadah

  9. Sahana Vavatu

  10. Om Aim Sarasvati