Svara - Tanpura Drone Synth

Svara is a free web-based tanpura drone generator developed by PeaceDrone. It uses advanced physical modeling (Karplus–Strong synthesis) to emulate the resonant, evolving tones of a real tanpura. The app runs entirely in your browser — no downloads or plugins required.

The tanpura (or tambura) is a long-necked Indian string instrument that produces a continuous harmonic drone. It’s an essential part of Indian classical music, providing the tonal foundation for ragas and improvisation. Its rich overtone spectrum supports melodic and meditative performance.

Svara uses the Web Audio API’s AudioWorklet engine to simulate tanpura strings with physical string models. Each virtual string includes jīvāri buzz, resonance filtering, and stereo reverberation to produce a natural acoustic sound in real time.

Click Start to begin the drone. Choose your key (Sa), octave, and tuning reference (440 Hz or 432 Hz). Adjust tone brightness, buzz amount, and reverb to shape your sound. Your settings are saved in the URL automatically, so you can share or bookmark them.

Yes. You can freely switch between 440 Hz and 432 Hz reference tunings. Many musicians describe 432 Hz as warmer and slightly more relaxed, while 440 Hz remains the global concert standard.

Yes. Svara runs entirely in your browser, with no sign-up, ads, or data collection. It’s part of the open-web PeaceDrone project, dedicated to accessible creative tools for musicians and sound artists.

After the first load, Svara continues working offline in browsers that support caching. The sound engine runs locally and does not depend on cloud streaming or APIs.

Yes. The tanpura’s harmonic texture naturally supports meditation, yoga, and ambient sound practice. Adjust the tone, buzz, and reverb to create a gentle, sustaining background for mindfulness and breath work.