How To Learn Sitar? Tips from my experience.

Hi, I’m Jeff Starr, a sitar student and filmmaker.

I often get asked how to learn sitar.

So, I made a short video to share my experience as a student and give you my tips and suggestions.  In the end, it’s pretty easy if you do one really important thing.  But, you gotta watch the video to find out what that is.

Should you learn the sitar?  If this is something you have been thinking about then I really think you should do it.  It’s definitely difficult but there are strange moments that can be easy. And once you practice, everything gets easier.  Don’t be afraid to try it out.and if you are wondering if you are too old you are not.

Learning Raga Yaman Alap, Update July 2016

This is a video to document my progress learning the Alap from Raga Yaman.

I think it’s starting to come together a bit better now. Listen to this video from earlier this year, back in in April.

I feel like I’ve made some really good improvements, although I still have a long way to go.

I am playing a Barun Ray (Hiren Roy’s son) sitar. I have been taking sitar lessons since 2012.

Thanks for watching and please feel free to comment.

Audio was recorded in LogicX.

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Sitar Practice: Increasing taan speed. 06.01.2016

My guru wants me to play as fast as 200 beats per minute. I’m working up to that goal and practicing my newest Taan. The gat is in Raga Yaman.

A taan is sort of similar to playing a riff in western music.

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

Sitar Practice: Paltas and Alap 5.28.2016

In this video practicing paltas and the opening to Alap. I’m planning to document my sitar practice on a regular basis.

Paltas are melodic patterns to train your left and right hand using the notes of the Raga you are practicing. I’m working on raga Yaman.

Later I practice my opening to the Alap portion of Raga Yaman.

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

Practicing Sitar: Raga Yaman, Alap

I have been taking sitar lessons since 2012. I have been slowing learning to play Alap for about 2 years. It’s really hard!

This is a video to document where I currently am with my progress and to get feedback from others.

I hear so much in my playing that needs improvement but people ask to hear me play all the time so I thought I would record something short.

I am playing a Barun Ray (Hiren Roy’s son) sitar.

Thanks for watching! Please feel free to comment.

Sitar after 2 years of lessons. Gat in Raga Yaman. 2014

I took this video so I could compare it to last year’s status. My teacher also has me playing Alap and Jor, but I’ll save those videos for another day.
I am playing a used Barun Ray (Hiren Roy’s son) sitar. I purchased this sitar only a few weeks ago so I’m still getting used to it’s feel. It’s a huge improvement over my old Radha Krishna Sharma sitar. Video shot on the Zoom Q3HD.

Sitar – after 1 year of lessons

I recently passed the 1 year milestone of formal sitar lessons.  A lot of friends had asked me for a video update so I recorded this the other night.  This is the Gat with Taans for the Raga Yaman that I am studying.  The Taans start a little after the 1 min mark.  I kept it pretty slow to avoid mistakes and to hopefully keep better rhythm.  I was using a metronome too, something I just started doing and something I recommend.  I still have a long way to go! But, you can get the basic idea.   I didn’t record any Mizrab and Pulta exercises, but those are part of my regular practicing.  I am playing a student model Radha Krishna Sharma sitar.  It’s an okay starter sitar.  It is tuned in the style of Ustad Vilayat Khan.  Video shot on the Zoom Q3HD.