How (and why) to tune a Shruti Box

00:00 HOW AND WHY TO TUNE A SHRUTI BOX
You’ve just got your new Shruti Box and have discovered that it doesn’t sound great with other instruments or maybe you have already checked it with a tuner and discovered that it isn’t in tune. Don’t worry. There is a solution.
This video will walk you through two solutions - you can easily tune other instruments to your Shruti Box or you can actually tune your Shruti Box.
(If you want to get your own Shruti Box - tinyurl.com/shruti-box)
(For the purposes of this tutorial - being “in tune” means that each note is tuned using A=440 hz as the tuning standard.)
Grab a notepad, a pencil, and your electronic tuner.
Use your electronic tuner to check the tuning of each reed.
Write down how sharp or flat each reed is.
If you are lucky, your Shruti Box is 100% in tune. But this isn’t usually the case.
2:11 OPTION 1 - Tune other instruments to the Shruti Box
If every note on the Shruti Box is out of tune by the same amount - this means the Shruti Box is in tune with itself and will sound lovely on its own. If you are only going to accompany yourself singing, then you don’t need to do anything.
But if you want to play the Shruti Box with other instruments (the majority of which are tuned to A440) then you’ll need to make an adjustment.
An easy fix is to calibrate your tuner to the Shruti Box and then tune other instruments to your Shruti Box.
In brief, play a note on your Shruti Box and change the calibration of your tuner until it shows the note in tune. In the video, the Shruti Box is 20 cents sharp so I calibrate the tuner up and when I get to A445, the note registers as in tune. So if I keep the tuner calibrated to A445, I can use it to tune other instruments and they will be in tune with the Shruti box.
You might also want to watch this video that covers calibrating your tuner in depth.
• How and Why to Calibra...
3:30 OPTION 2 - Tune the Shruti Box
If the notes vary in how out of tune they are or if you want to play with instruments that can’t be tuned (like a Rav Vast or a keyboard instrument) then you’ll need to tune your Shruti Box.
Remove the screws from the reed plate and flip it over.
Use a needle file or nail to scrape material off the reeds.
Scrape material off the reed near the fixed end of the reed to lower the pitch.
Scrape material off the reed near the vibrating (free) end of the reed to raise the pitch.
Reattach the reed plate and check the tuning of each note again.
Take careful notes and then repeat the process until you have all the reeds in tune.
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www.reverieharpmusic.com
REVERIE HARP
tinyurl.com/reverieharps
SHRUTI BOX
tinyurl.com/shruti-box
RAV VAST
tinyurl.com/rav-bmin

[@UkuleleBobbyKemp]

Excellent Tutorial!! 🙏

[@laybackeasy]

This is so helpful! I just ordered a Shruti Box and was worried that if it was out of tune I would have to return it. Now I know I can just fix it myself. Yes!

[@SeanClarkeMusic]

This is so very helpful, thank you for taking the time to share!

[@BarryGrueter]

Wow, amazing but worth it I think ✌️

[@voytsmis]

Is it possible to play ONE shruti with many RAV or handpan scales ? Will it sound ok - I mean can I set one shruti in few scales without scraping? Thank You...I want buy shruti with pedal but almost all are in C...I have handpans in B minor D minor D major C# etc...any advice?

[@reverieharp]

Yes. You only need one Shruti Box to play with any Rav or Handpan. The Shruti Box can drone in any key - you just open the appropriate valves. What I'm describing in this video is how to tune the entire Shruti Box to A=440. Once you have done that, the Shruti Box can play with any other instrument that is also tuned to A-440. Hope this helps.

[@voytsmis]

@@reverieharp very helpfull...thanks a lot..I have Shruti 2 octaves...