What Calcutta style means
Two building traditions exist, and the clearest dividing line is the keys. Calcutta style keys are two pieces. Press the front piece down, a tab at its back catches a tab on a separate rear piece and lifts that. Delhi keys are one piece on a centre pin. The Calcutta action is more involved to build and has a different feel under the fingers, and it is one reason these instruments take longer to make.
Beyond the keys, Calcutta instruments are the concert tradition: heavier bodies, usually teak, 3 or 4 reed banks, and scale changer mechanisms. They cost more because the reed work and the mechanism take longer, not because of the badge. If you sing professionally, accompany a range of voices, or record, this is the page. If you are buying your first harmonium, it is not.
At this price, the sustain test matters more than anywhere. Play a chord, stop pumping, count until the sound dies. A concert instrument should run past four seconds on a low chord and toward six on a high one. We film this for every harmonium before it ships, so you see the number.
Reeds, and when you need more
2 reed, $885 to $1,295. Bass and male reed banks. Clear, focused, and lighter to carry. MKS builds these in teak at $885 upright and $905 folding. Enough for most accompaniment.
3 reed, $1,255 to $2,969. Adds the female bank. Fuller, carries a room on its own, and the usual concert choice. MKS 3 reed from $1,255, our own Premium Calcutta 3 reed scale changer at $1,509, MKS 3 reed 9 scales at $1,669, Paul & Co 3 reed 9 scale changer at $2,969.
4 reed, $1,759 to $3,979. Adds a second male bank. The heaviest sound and the heaviest instrument. Our Premium Calcutta 4 reed 13 scale at $1,759, MKS 4 reed concert from $2,329, Paul & Co 4 reed teak 13 scale at $3,979.
Scale changers
A scale changer shifts the whole keyboard so a piece in one key can be played in another without relearning fingering. Singers who accompany different voices find it indispensable. Everyone else does not need one and is paying for a mechanism they will not use. The 9 scale versions shift through nine positions, the 13 scale through thirteen, which covers every key. Scale changers add weight and cost, and are checked luggage on any flight.
Monoj K Sardar or Paul & Co
Both are Kolkata workshops. Monoj K Sardar, usually written MKS, builds in teak across the whole range from 2 reed at $885 to 4 reed 13 scale at $2,379. Consistent, well regarded, and what most serious players buy. Paul & Co builds the finest scale changers made, at $2,969 and $3,979, and we hold only a small allocation. If you want the best mechanism and the money is not the deciding factor, Paul & Co. If you want a concert instrument that will serve for decades at a defensible price, MKS.
Before you order
At this price, talk to us first. Tell us what you play, what voices you accompany, and whether it will travel. We will say honestly which instrument suits and whether you need the scale changer at all. Every one of these is filmed and played through for you before it is packed, so you hear the exact instrument, not a demonstration model.
Buying from us
You pay nothing when you order. An order here is a request, not a payment. We confirm the instrument is available, then you decide.
You see and hear the actual harmonium. We film and photograph the exact one going to you, played through, before it is packed.
Free insured express shipping to 38 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand. Canada, the UAE, Thailand, Poland and Czechia are charged by weight and quoted before you pay.
Free WhatsApp advice before you buy. Tell us how you play and we will say honestly which one suits, including when a cheaper one is the better answer.
Not sure which harmonium? Our complete harmonium buying guide covers the two decisions that set your budget, how the instrument works, the five checks that matter, and the two repairs every owner should know. About twenty minutes to read and it will save you from the most common mistakes.
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between a Delhi and a Calcutta harmonium?
Delhi is the everyday tradition: lighter, simpler, $509 to $919. Calcutta is the concert tradition: teak bodies, 3 or 4 reeds, scale changers, $885 to $3,979. Calcutta is not better for a beginner, it is built for a different job.
Do I need a 3 reed harmonium?
Only if you need to fill a room on your own or record. 2 reed carries most accompaniment. 3 reed is the usual concert choice. 4 reed is for players who want the heaviest possible sound.
What does a scale changer do?
Shifts the keyboard so you play in any key with the same fingering. Essential if you accompany different voices. Unnecessary for solo playing or a single singer.
MKS or Paul & Co?
MKS for a concert instrument at a defensible price, $885 to $2,379. Paul & Co for the finest scale changer made, $2,969 to $3,979. Both are Kolkata workshops and both are excellent.
How much does a concert harmonium cost?
3 reed from $1,255. Scale changers from $1,295. 4 reed from $1,759. Paul & Co from $2,969.
Can I buy a concert harmonium from India and have it shipped?
Yes, and at this price we would rather talk first. Free insured express shipping to 38 countries. You pay nothing when you order, and your instrument ships only after you have seen and heard it on video and approved it.
