awesome solo man, sounds really good. I was thinking about getting one of these in the distant future, I am curious how long does it take to learn how to play a sitar
@dj9volt I'm a little bit reluctant to answer since I get so many pissy comments from sitar experts, but since you asked, I would encourage you to get one and try it out. It works very much like most other stringed instruments, though there are some unique features. There's a lot of information in books or on the internet to explain the playing techniques, and you can listen to CDs of well-known players to understand the aesthetics and ways of improvising. Go for it!
While I must commend you for trying sitar I feel I have to comment on your, mainly, left hand technique. You're obviously a guitar player as you keep placing all your fingers over the strings. This is not sitar technique as checking out professional player on u-tube will show. Neither is that guitarist's string vibrato/wobble that you all seem to do. Short fingers WILL stop you playing sitar well, I feel. Although one can get a smaller sitar but these tend to be for kids.
...I totally just got the vision of someone looking out of a window, seeing something interesting, and going to check it out. It's like the music itself was curious...
@MrMasticater It's like a guitar in that the frets represent half steps (except for one whole step between C and D). But it's unlike the guitar in that you don't play chords - one main melody string and the rest are drones tuned to C or G. I suppose you could play with a pick - it wouldn't break the strings, but the metal finger-pick on the index finger is easy to get used to and will give you the characteristic sitar sound more than a guitar pick.
@0oAccount123o0 As I recall, I paid around $250 + $60 or $70 for shipping - but that was several years ago - with inflation the costs are probably more now. Also, this is an inexpensive instrument - you could pay much more for a better sitar.
you have some musical sense however, your playing would benefit from some training in traditional technique and raga interpretation. Is this raga Yeman? sounds sort of like it!
Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of training in traditional technique or raga interpretation. On the other hand, I've read quite a lot on the subject, studied various ragas and their parent scales (from books) and listened to a lot of players: Ravi Shankar (or course), Nikhil Banerjee, Vilayat and Imrat Khan and others. And yes, I was improvising around the basic idea of yeman, though without formal training in raga interpretation, I would never claim to be playing it as a raga.
Im interested in seriously learning to play the Sitar. However, i have no previous experience with any musical instument. On a scale of one to ten, how difficult would you say it is to pick up and learn the sitar? Thanks!
The difficulty will be in proportion to your own determination to over come the obstacles and figure it out. There are inherent difficulties in any stringed instrument, and among these, tuning is a major one with the sitar since you are dealing with, not only the playing strings, but the sympathetic strings as well
@GrossOnToast It depends on the style that you want to pick up, also the level of musicianship you want to attain with this instrument. Do you want to try to become an expert or is this just something you want to take out to play for fun?
@twinshadow9999 As far as I can tell, sitars are all hand-made and each individual instrument will be different in some respects. I would try to get the best one you can afford. I bought this one on eBay. Good luck!
dude! im frickin all ,messed up on this noises, tilt your head back, breathe heavy and think! See! hitch me a ride on the magic cart! its that simple!
If only i could improvise like that on anything. then i might actually be considered good... lollc. I must admit, seeing this definitely has me thinking about learning the sitar. I might do that one day. It sounds very beautiful!
Thanks - nice of you to say so! It's not as hard as you might imagine - especially if you can play a stringed instrument already. In some ways the sitar is simpler in conception than the guitar - its just melody and drone - no chords to worry about. Thanks again!
NO CHORDS?!?!?! No way!!!!!! I officially love it even more. I play 13 instruments, around which like 4 are stringed. Unfortunately, when I atempted to learn Guitar, it kinda backfired... I'm more of a base guitar person. However, Sitar + no chords = MOST AWESOME INSTRUMENT EVAR. (I have a lot of trouble with chords, for which reason is that It's outrageously painful.)
Anyways, the point of all of that ramble was to say "Thank you," for the added information, I will definitely learn it one day!
You might try tuning your guitar like a sitar to see what that's like. The usual way of doing it is (from low to high) D-A-D-G-A-D. In this tuning the G string functions like the main melody string on the sitar, and the others act as drones.
BADASS! I watched that video, "playing for change: Song around the world" and theres a sitar solo in it that kicks ass, and every since i heard that ive just been fascinated with the instrument.
IN MY OPINION its nearly impossible to teach yourself the instrument traditionaly but if u just want to play western music on a different instrument it isnt TOO much harder then guitar
Chords might be possible, but out of character with the traditional sound of the sitar. Indian music functions as melody (raga) and rhythm (tala) over a drone made up of the tonic and dominant pitches (to use Western terminology). Sometimes you will hear the drone tuned to other pitches that are appropriate for the particular raga, but root and fifth are usual for the drone. With the absence of chords (in the Western sense), each note of the raga relates directly to the drone.
I live in a small town in Oklahoma. The nearest sitarist that I know about is a disciple of Ravi Shankar who teaches in Austin, Texas. We've had some enlightening email exchanges but thats about it.
You're right - I'm self taught. Guitar is my primary instrument and I play the sitar for my own enjoyment. You'll notice I entitled the performance "improvisation" - being untrained, I wouldn't presume to say I was playing a true raga, but in my mind I was thinking of the modal structure of Kalyan or maybe Yaman. If you have any advice or guidance for me please don't hesitate to pass it along!
One of the most majestic instruments I've heard
MrAlexGTV 2 weeks ago
I like the photo shop type filterings on your vid... it adds something to it.
abrahm714 2 weeks ago
@abrahm714 actually I just realised that it was the smoke that wafted in front of you that added something to this vid.
abrahm714 2 weeks ago
@abrahm714 It's incense - just trying to do the traditional Indian thing.
MaxRidgway 2 weeks ago
awesome solo man, sounds really good. I was thinking about getting one of these in the distant future, I am curious how long does it take to learn how to play a sitar
dj9volt 1 month ago
@dj9volt I'm a little bit reluctant to answer since I get so many pissy comments from sitar experts, but since you asked, I would encourage you to get one and try it out. It works very much like most other stringed instruments, though there are some unique features. There's a lot of information in books or on the internet to explain the playing techniques, and you can listen to CDs of well-known players to understand the aesthetics and ways of improvising. Go for it!
MaxRidgway 1 month ago
how the hell did i get here?
trialanderror620 1 month ago
listen to Gap's Orchestra
campanellino18 2 months ago
you can not even tune your sitar let alone play it!!go back to guitar or a retard instrument!!!! and don't come back
love4indianmusic 6 months ago
@love4indianmusic dude calm down, not everyone is magically an instrument expert. All of it takes practice so give the dude a break, damn.
WolfStorms44 5 months ago
@love4indianmusic you are a true loser.
pinchosalcarbon 1 month ago
I love the way the sitar player jammed in harmony to the background noises!
abrahm714 6 months ago
An easy to tell guitarist first!!!
Nick
tripmonk0 10 months ago
Can you imagine Clapton or Eddie Van Halen playing one of these babies? LOL
vodude 1 year ago
@vodude THEY CANT!! LOL
bonbelel 11 months ago
so weird
snowflakeFactory 1 year ago
Tuning the sitar is the easy part. Playing at any speed and understding the build up from Alaap , vilambit and drut is hard . very hard at times!
Manjit
manjitsingh10.webs.com
manjit1966 1 year ago
@manjit1966
tuning a sitar is no easy deal
urso93 1 year ago
While I must commend you for trying sitar I feel I have to comment on your, mainly, left hand technique. You're obviously a guitar player as you keep placing all your fingers over the strings. This is not sitar technique as checking out professional player on u-tube will show. Neither is that guitarist's string vibrato/wobble that you all seem to do. Short fingers WILL stop you playing sitar well, I feel. Although one can get a smaller sitar but these tend to be for kids.
Nick aka tripmonk0
tripmonk0 1 year ago
I love it . Indian music , Sitar is the most spiritual .
2012ageoflight 1 year ago
...I totally just got the vision of someone looking out of a window, seeing something interesting, and going to check it out. It's like the music itself was curious...
awholelotofhooblah 1 year ago
i can play bass and a little guitar. but i've been interested in learning sitar for a while.
Shaggy076 1 year ago
i know a lot of people who cant stand to listen to this instrument. but for some reason, i freaking love it
randomovertone 1 year ago
wow the first person on you tube who doesnt suck at sitar good job
MasonIFTW 1 year ago
AMAZING! i love it xD
akashthaker 1 year ago
My fingers are like 6 cm, could I learn how to play a sitar?
MrJastin 1 year ago
@MrJastin Sure - I don't see why not. You don't need long fingers to play it.
MaxRidgway 1 year ago 7
@MaxRidgway how simialr is it to an electric guitar and can u play it with a pick or woudl that break the strings?
MrMasticater 1 week ago
@MrMasticater It's like a guitar in that the frets represent half steps (except for one whole step between C and D). But it's unlike the guitar in that you don't play chords - one main melody string and the rest are drones tuned to C or G. I suppose you could play with a pick - it wouldn't break the strings, but the metal finger-pick on the index finger is easy to get used to and will give you the characteristic sitar sound more than a guitar pick.
MaxRidgway 1 week ago
I want one of these so bad
clayto1332 1 year ago
how many strings are there and how are they tuned note wise?
Teutonic1250 1 year ago
damn awsome how long have you ben playing and much did that sitar cost on ebay?
G19653 1 year ago
sitar hero
0oAccount123o0 2 years ago 14
@0oAccount123o0 As I recall, I paid around $250 + $60 or $70 for shipping - but that was several years ago - with inflation the costs are probably more now. Also, this is an inexpensive instrument - you could pay much more for a better sitar.
MaxRidgway 1 year ago 2
@MaxRidgway you're right. On amazon i think it's $350 plus like $60-$70 in shipping.
sjlarcadia 1 year ago
@MaxRidgway wait, tell me, where can I get a good sitar??? please tell me
pinchosalcarbon 1 month ago
@0oAccount123o0 hahaha it's funny cause it's guitar hero not sitar hero hahaha
sp4rtucus 7 months ago
you have some musical sense however, your playing would benefit from some training in traditional technique and raga interpretation. Is this raga Yeman? sounds sort of like it!
jshsitar 2 years ago
Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of training in traditional technique or raga interpretation. On the other hand, I've read quite a lot on the subject, studied various ragas and their parent scales (from books) and listened to a lot of players: Ravi Shankar (or course), Nikhil Banerjee, Vilayat and Imrat Khan and others. And yes, I was improvising around the basic idea of yeman, though without formal training in raga interpretation, I would never claim to be playing it as a raga.
MaxRidgway 2 years ago
Im interested in seriously learning to play the Sitar. However, i have no previous experience with any musical instument. On a scale of one to ten, how difficult would you say it is to pick up and learn the sitar? Thanks!
GrossOnToast 2 years ago
The difficulty will be in proportion to your own determination to over come the obstacles and figure it out. There are inherent difficulties in any stringed instrument, and among these, tuning is a major one with the sitar since you are dealing with, not only the playing strings, but the sympathetic strings as well
MaxRidgway 2 years ago
@GrossOnToast It depends on the style that you want to pick up, also the level of musicianship you want to attain with this instrument. Do you want to try to become an expert or is this just something you want to take out to play for fun?
RichWrightFloyd19 1 month ago
@twinshadow9999 As far as I can tell, sitars are all hand-made and each individual instrument will be different in some respects. I would try to get the best one you can afford. I bought this one on eBay. Good luck!
MaxRidgway 2 years ago
dude! im frickin all ,messed up on this noises, tilt your head back, breathe heavy and think! See! hitch me a ride on the magic cart! its that simple!
mitopian1 2 years ago
duuuuuuuuuude
fucking trippin right now
bradleythebear17 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
sitar is the shittiest instrument ever
it was made to rape music
jack75391 2 years ago
1stly, as if it is, secondly, if you don't like it, don't listen :)
TheNirvanaChair 2 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Eat shit faggot
MetalBassjunkie420 2 years ago
that is not a saraswati veena, the neck is too wide... i think...
JeroenSaccheri 2 years ago
If only i could improvise like that on anything. then i might actually be considered good... lollc. I must admit, seeing this definitely has me thinking about learning the sitar. I might do that one day. It sounds very beautiful!
Darkovika 2 years ago
Thanks - nice of you to say so! It's not as hard as you might imagine - especially if you can play a stringed instrument already. In some ways the sitar is simpler in conception than the guitar - its just melody and drone - no chords to worry about. Thanks again!
MaxRidgway 2 years ago
NO CHORDS?!?!?! No way!!!!!! I officially love it even more. I play 13 instruments, around which like 4 are stringed. Unfortunately, when I atempted to learn Guitar, it kinda backfired... I'm more of a base guitar person. However, Sitar + no chords = MOST AWESOME INSTRUMENT EVAR. (I have a lot of trouble with chords, for which reason is that It's outrageously painful.)
Anyways, the point of all of that ramble was to say "Thank you," for the added information, I will definitely learn it one day!
Darkovika 2 years ago
let me guess, ravi is 75?
PJcam24 2 years ago
imma gonna get one of these sitars and tune it like a guitar (if possible) and do some weird sitar version of stairway t heaven. YAY.
pkerlover 2 years ago
You might try tuning your guitar like a sitar to see what that's like. The usual way of doing it is (from low to high) D-A-D-G-A-D. In this tuning the G string functions like the main melody string on the sitar, and the others act as drones.
MaxRidgway 2 years ago
How about tuning my mandolin or bass like a sitar?
PJcam24 2 years ago
Let's see, if you started at birth you'd be 75 years old before you've mastered it. I guess I'll just play it for fun.
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
BADASS! I watched that video, "playing for change: Song around the world" and theres a sitar solo in it that kicks ass, and every since i heard that ive just been fascinated with the instrument.
EthanNoble420 3 years ago
ever since i heard george harrison and ravi shankar play this i always wated to learn how .
how difficult is it to teach ur self ?
TheBeatlesfan1991 3 years ago
IN MY OPINION its nearly impossible to teach yourself the instrument traditionaly but if u just want to play western music on a different instrument it isnt TOO much harder then guitar
blablablaROCKIT 3 years ago
are chords possible with a sitar? just wondering
koolandy 3 years ago
Chords might be possible, but out of character with the traditional sound of the sitar. Indian music functions as melody (raga) and rhythm (tala) over a drone made up of the tonic and dominant pitches (to use Western terminology). Sometimes you will hear the drone tuned to other pitches that are appropriate for the particular raga, but root and fifth are usual for the drone. With the absence of chords (in the Western sense), each note of the raga relates directly to the drone.
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
i thought it was very good.
koolandy 3 years ago
Hey thanks! After all the criticism about which fingers I used, etc, etc, it's nice to have a compliment!!
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
My advice is to study with a teacher. i think you will enjoy playing much more and get so much out of the instrument that way.
jaym222 3 years ago
Thanks for your advice. I would gladly study with a teacher, but there aren't any around this part of the world.
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
Where do you live?
jaym222 3 years ago
I live in a small town in Oklahoma. The nearest sitarist that I know about is a disciple of Ravi Shankar who teaches in Austin, Texas. We've had some enlightening email exchanges but thats about it.
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
You're right - I'm self taught. Guitar is my primary instrument and I play the sitar for my own enjoyment. You'll notice I entitled the performance "improvisation" - being untrained, I wouldn't presume to say I was playing a true raga, but in my mind I was thinking of the modal structure of Kalyan or maybe Yaman. If you have any advice or guidance for me please don't hesitate to pass it along!
MaxRidgway 3 years ago
Nice sensitivity to the raga. I notice you are using 3 fingers on your left hand. Are you self taught, or just rebellious? - Rasa
PelorianPages 3 years ago