How to Play Basic Sitar

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The roots of the sitar extend back 2000 years, with the modern sitar originating in the Middle Ages. Learn to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

There are 21 videos in this series:

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1.

Basic Exercises for Sitar
Playing the sitar well entails practicing scale and interval exercises like in most instruments. Learn exercises to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 274
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2.

Basic Scales on a Sitar
The Then Thaths are sitar parent scales upon which the ragas are based. Learn to play scales on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 242
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3.

History & Overview of the Sitar
The roots of the sitar extend back 2000 years, with the modern sitar originating in the Middle Ages. Learn to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 263
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4.

How To Change Frets on a Sitar
To change the tone of a sitar scale the frets must be adjusted. Learn to play the sitar and change frets from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 229
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5.

How To Hold a Sitar
To play the sitar you must first know how to hold a sitar correctly; form is important for many instruments. Learn to hold the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 231
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6.

How To Tune a Sitar
Some sitar players tune to C sharp (C#) but many to D, and tuning occurs before and during playing each time. Learn to tune the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 257
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7.

Improvisation on a Sitar
Sitar and tabla players take turns with improv in the raga, returning to patterns between. Learn to play improv on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 234
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8.

Improvisation Technique for Sitar
Playing solos on the sitar is like jazz: find the pattern, improv, return to pattern. Learn to play improv on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 219
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9.

Music Demo on Sitar
Play the sitar with tabla machine accompaniment or an electric tambura drone. Learn to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 291
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10.

Play a Sitar on the Frets
The sitar is a stringed instrument with frets that resemble those on a guitar. Learn to play the sitar on the frets from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 205
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11.

Playing a Sitar with Various Beats
Tabla beats give the sitar rhythm, and electric tabla machines are available. Learn to play the sitar at various beats from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 198
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12.

Playing Pulls on a Sitar
When playing sitar you can pull up to four or five notes by pulling strings sideways. Learn to play pulls on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 215
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13.

Playing Pulse-Like Patterns on a Sitar
The early part of a sitar raga sets the pulse and introduces the main notes. Learn to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 211
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14.

Playing the Sympathetic Strings on a Sitar
Chala is a sitar technique that uses the sympathetic strings as almost a drone. Learn to play sitar solos from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 219
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15.

Pull Exercises for Sitar
Practice playing sitar with pull and bol exercises of varying difficulty. Learn exercises to play the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 201
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16.

Raga Differences for Sitar
Ragas can vary slightly on the sitar for dramatic effect, allowing ornaments and accidentals. Learn to play different ragas on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 205
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17.

Right Hand Exercises for Sitar
Exercising the right hand is key to sitar playing, hitting the pulls and plucks correctly. Learn right hand exercises for playing the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 209
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18.

Sitar Droning & Choosing a Teacher
Finding a teacher for your sitar playing is key to mastering the subtleties of the instrument. Learn to tune the sitar and choose a teacher from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 247
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19.

Sitar Playing Time Signatures
Use a table machine when playing sitar to experiment with time signatures and beats. Learn to play different time signatures on the sitar from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 223
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20.

Using a Pick When Playing a Sitar
Use a metal pick call a mizrab to play the sitar with up and down plucks. Learn to play the sitar with a pick from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 201
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21.

What is a Raga in Sitar Playing?
A raga is a sitar piece of music that incorporates a scale with a melody of sorts. Learn to play the sitar ragas from an authentically trained player in this free sitar video lesson.

Views: 239
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Views: 4,754 Videos in Series: 21

Tags: sitar, indian, instruction, playing, tambura, tabla

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Summary: The Sitar is most well known to the Western World as the instrument of India. Although it is believed that the Sitar has existed in its current form since the 1700s, its popularity among the West is a very recent phenomenon. Musicians such as George Harrison of the Beatles and Ravi Shankar helped popularize the instrument during the late '60s and early '70s. With its beautiful Eastern melodies and drones, the Sitar became an easily recognizable instrument in Western Popular culture.

In this free sitar video series, accomplished sitar player Daisy Paradis gives you the basic techniques of playing ragas and improv on the sitar. Daisy introduces you to the instrument, showing you how to tune and hold the sitar properly. You will also learn the role of accompanying instruments and the form of the raga, the sitar's most popular music. Daisy leads you through meend and bol techniques, plucking and pulling, and droning with the sympathetic strings of the sitar.

About the Expert

Contact: lotusmusicanddance.o...

Expert: Daisy Paradis is a teacher at Lotus Music and Dance in New York City. She is one of the few Americans who can give a pure and authentic rendition of North Indian classical music. An outstanding musician in full command of her instrument, she has had the benefit of more than twenty years of training with one of the greatest artists of India, Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Daughter of jazz harpist, Daphne Hellman, and sister of guitarist, Sandy Bull, Paradis has been a disciple of Maestro Ali Akbar Khan since 1966. She has studied sitar with Krishna Bhatt as well as attended workshops with Pdt. Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee. Paradis has appeared in performance with Maestro Ali Akbar Khan and Swapan Chaudhuri. She performed as part of the India Festival in California and was invited in 1989 to perform for the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nehru Centenary celebration.