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Catalog > Wind Instruments > Harmoniums & Sruti Boxes updated November 26, 2007
    harmonium Harmoniums are bellows-driven, free-reed keyboard instruments related to parlor reed organs. They have keyboards that are similar to piano accordions, only with shorter keys.
    Unlike the reed organ, the harmonium is pressure-powered, not vacuum-powered.
    Harmoniums are used extensively in South Asia for classical and meditative music.
    More information on harmoniums

    Sruti Boxes are smaller bellows-driven, free-reed drone instruments.
    Unlike harmoniums, they have no keyboard and play a drone accompaniment, not melody. Players can play several drones at once to play chords.
    Click here to order

Our stock of harmoniums varies. We often have a selection of new, used, traveler, standard, and scale-changer harmoniums. Please contact us for prices and availability.

The Pankaj publication Learn to Play on Harmonium by Ram Avtar 'Vir' divides Indian harmoniums into these basic types:

  • Simple harmonium: played with one hand while the other pushes a bellows at the back.
  • Coupler harmonium: made with an octave coupler.
  • Suitcase harmonium: folds into a suitcase shape, for portability.
  • Scale change harmonium: contains a movable keyboard.
  • Organ type harmonium: a foldable harmonium with foot pedals.

Classified by bellows type, Vir describes three types:

  • Single bellows: accordion-style bellows attached to a plate at the back of the instrument.
  • Double bellows: has an additional segment of bellows.
  • English bellows: made by uniting several pieces of small bellows. The bellows remains connected with both the plates like a simple bellows, but opens from one side. This bellows has the highest capacity of force to blow air in.

There are 3 keyboard sizes available:

  • 3 octaves, with 37 keys
  • 3 1/4 octaves, with 39 keys
  • 3 1/2 octaves, containing 42 keys

Sruti Box

  • Small bellows-driven, free-reed drone instrument. made in India.
  • No keyboard: plays a drone accompaniment, not melody. Players can combine drones to get different chords.
  • Solid wood construction

    $150.00

About Harmonium Shipping

What we've learned over the past 20 odd years of selling, playing, and repairing these instruments.

    Harmoniums are delicate free reed instruments that do not always travel well. It is not uncommon for the instrument to play perfectly well in the shop and then have developed problems by the time it arrives at your door. These minor problems are typically not covered by UPS shipping insurance, but they are fixable.

    Some common harmonium maladies:
    1. Reed or reeds buzzing or wheezing. This is often caused by a piece of sawdust or debris that has lodged in between the blade of the reed and its frame.
    2. Keyboard has one or more sticking keys. This is often caused by changes in temperature and humidity.
    3. Drones or stops become stuck. High humidity can cause drones or stops to stick to the wood frame.

    The above problems can easily be remedied by a competent instrument repairman, especially one with experience repairing accordions or concertinas. We also highly recommend that you give the instrument a couple of days to "settle in" to its new home before you establish that there is a problem. During this time it should be played as much as possible under stable conditions of temperature and humidity.

    Remember, the harmoniums we sell are made in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Their technology is just emerging and their quality control is less than optimal. If these instruments were made in the US or Japan they would cost 3 to 4 times as much. You may be interested to read our article about imports, which deals with these issues.

    What if you order a new harmonium from HMT, and it is shipped to you, and it has some of these minor problems, and you don't have access to a repairman?
    Our standard 7-day return policy applies to all new instruments (Consignments and "as is" instruments are not returnable). During this time, you can return it for a refund or repair, at your option. We will do one minor repair job at our expense for any of the small problems listed above. Any additional repairs after the instrument is returned to you will be your responsibility.
    If it is at all possible for you to pick up the instrument in person, that is vastly preferable to having it shipped. However, it still may develop environmental problems in its new home.

    More serious shipping damage, such as broken wood, etc. will be covered as a separate claim under the carrier's insurance. All harmoniums are shipped insured, usually via UPS.

    Please see our warranty page for further information, or contact us if you have any other questions or concerns.