Introduction
The melody strings are the most important strings on the shahi baaja. This guide will show how to repair or replace a worn out melody string and then tune it properly.
There are 15 tuning pegs on this instrument. This guide will focus on the two strings that the melody notes are played on. These strings are tuned with the tuning pegs that are seen all the way to the left.
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Both melody strings can be tuned by using the same process. Once one string has been tuned, simply repeat these steps to tune the other string.
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Carefully, turn the tuning peg counterclockwise to tighten the string. Tightening the string will raise the pitch of the note.
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If the pitch gets too high, turn the tuning peg slowly clockwise to loosen the string. Loosening the string will lower the pitch of the note.
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Locate the ends of the strings. These can be found at the base of the instrument where there are metal circles that hold the strings in place.
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Slowly, start turning the tuning peg clockwise to loosen the string.
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Take the new string and run it back underneath the metal bridge cover, just as it was removed in the previous step.
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Make sure the string lays within the notch of the bridge.
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Run the string through the tuner hole until half an inch of the string is protruding on the other side of the peg.
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Start to turn the tuning peg counter clockwise, keeping the half inch piece of string on top of the string which is being wound around the tuning peg.
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Pluck the string to play a note.
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Turn the tuning peg counterclockwise to raise the pitch of the string.
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Continue to raise the pitch as necessary. If your string becomes too sharp, proceed to Step 12.
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Pluck the note again to re-evaluate the pitch.
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Tighten the string until the needle on the tuner either reaches the zero or passes it.
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Follow the steps, and your shahi baaja will be in tune.
3 comments
You explain how a tuner works, but you don’t say in which note should each of the 15 strings should be tuned, could you please add it to the guide?
Thanks.
Alex3 -
I Just brought a Paloma just about few weeks back. Even i have the same question. how about the 15 strings?? Please add this info. Its important. If these strings are out of , the “Pickup” pulls up that sound also. thanks in advance….Mohan.
Tune the Paloma Shahi Baaja to C. The 2 melody strings tune to G. The third white key from the bottom is your tonic C. The 3 strings are the drones; tune these to C-G-C. The 10 string representing the swarmandal can be tuned from low to high: C-C-C-Eb-F-G-G-Bb-C-C. You may find many tunings that work.