This is a harmonium tune that can be played with chords, melody alone, or both. I choose to play it with both during kirtans using two drone chords. This tune is played in the key of Bb minor. For this it has that hue of sadness and yearning that can really help those in attendance connect deeply with the divine. I hope you like it and will consider adding it to your main stack of performance songs.

This lesson takes us a step beyond the simpler chord-based tunes we’ve learned so far. Kirtan Song 5 is set in the key of C minor, which gives it a devotional, hypnotic, and deeply longing quality. Because it is in a minor scale, the sound naturally invites reflection and can sustain a meditative atmosphere when played for an extended time.

We begin by revisiting the C minor scale to establish the tonal foundation. From there, the lesson unfolds in layers:

1. Learning the melody line alone, developing confidence with the flow of notes.

2. Adding the chord progression, reinforcing harmonic movement.

3. Finally, bringing both together—melody and chords played simultaneously—to create the complete song arrangement.

Unlike the lighter major key kirtans, this tune has a more advanced texture and requires extra practice to balance both hands (one on the bellows / one on the keys). Yet once mastered, it becomes a powerful addition to your repertoire. Its rhythmic, repeating quality makes it ideal for sustaining a longer kirtan, where the music gradually builds, draws listeners inward, and deepens the collective chanting experience.

This song is not only a chance to grow technically—it’s also an opportunity to experience the emotional depth that minor key ragas and melodies can bring to kirtan.

The Four-Tone Framework for Bhakti Chanting

A simple melodic system that sets the mood, sustains energy, and creates unforgettable kīrtan experiences. It also allows you to literally play any chant on harmonium like a seasoned pro.

Key uses:

• Open kīrtan with a devotional, meditative atmosphere

• Close kīrtan gracefully, leaving participants calm and uplifted

• Break up longer kīrtans to keep energy fresh and participants engaged

• Transition between moods and tempos without losing the flow

Why it’s powerful:

• Hypnotizing rhythm draws listeners deep into absorption

• Makes time feel suspended—hours pass like minutes

• Heightens emotional connection, creating a sense of longing and homecoming

• Leaves a lasting impression, turning each kīrtan into a transcendental memory

This isn’t just a musical technique—it’s a tool for guiding hearts, shaping experiences, and carrying everyone present closer to Krishna through sound.

In this video you'll learn how I create kirtan tunes easily for different purposes. The one I'm demonstrating in the video is one I created as I created this lecture and so its raw and real and I hope you get something out of it.

In this lecture you'll learn a tune that is brilliant for kirtans. It is one of my favorites because you can play it for long intervals and your audience never grows old of the repetition. It is very hypnotizing and one your audience will enjoy listening to. The best part -- It works exceedingly well with the main three songs. If you must play for 2 - 5 hours (possibly longer) this is the song that will get you there.

In this lecture, you'll learn how to memorize kirtan tunes, much the way Hare Krishna's memorize slokas, sutras, and other Vedic texts. This process is a build-on-top-of-what-you've-learnt model.

How to Play Jaya Radha Madhava

This timeless bhajan is often sung to set the mood before kirtan begins. In this lesson you’ll not only learn how to play it, but also how to use it to create a meditative, hypnotic atmosphere that prepares everyone for chanting.

• Step-by-step melody and chord progression (which allows you to play confidently, and helps you establish a devotional tone right from the start).

• Pacing and delivery techniques (so you can guide the song gently, helping participants feel calm, centered, and fully present).

• Using it as an opening or transition piece (which gives you flexibility in structuring your kirtan and helps you hold space with both power and tenderness).

Sometimes one simple progression can open the door to multiple songs. This lesson shows how a single set of chords works for both Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha and the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and how to flow seamlessly between them for a hypnotic effect.

• A single chord progression for two songs (which saves you time learning and helps you expand your repertoire quickly).

• Transition methods between the two (so you can keep the energy flowing smoothly, helping participants stay absorbed without losing momentum).

• Techniques for sustaining longer kirtans (which allow you to vary the mood effortlessly and give participants a timeless, hypnotic experience).

The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most ancient and revered mantras, carrying a timeless, universal vibration. In this lesson you’ll learn how to play it in a way that preserves its meditative power while also making it a beautiful addition to your kirtan practice.

• Step-by-step melody and chords (which give you confidence to play it correctly and help you bring out its uplifting, sacred quality).

• Pacing and repetition methods (so you can draw participants into a deep, hypnotic rhythm that makes time seem to dissolve).

• Guidance on mood and delivery (which allows you to hold the atmosphere of reverence, helping participants feel connected to something eternal and transcendent).

• Using it in kirtans or personal meditation (so you can gain flexibility to enrich group chanting while also deepening your private sadhana).

Here you’ll learn how to bring new flavor into your chanting. By first playing Amma Amma Taye and then transforming its melody into the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, you’ll surprise and re-energize your participants while keeping the session deeply devotional.

• Full melody of Amma Amma Taye (which expands your repertoire and helps you bring freshness to your chanting).

• Conversion into the Maha Mantra (which allows you to bridge outside tunes into kirtan, delighting participants as a familiar melody becomes sacred chanting).

• Transition technique for longer sessions (so you can re-energize the group, helping participants feel wonder and excitement while staying immersed in the mantra’s hypnotic flow).