Tag Archives: sitar player

Improving Sitar Hand Technique and Endurance

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Improving my sitar hand technique and endurance has been a long and difficult task.

As most of you know, I have been working to increase my speed, so while I can play this sitar taan really well at 150 beats per minute, my teacher has given me the goal of playing it at 200bpm. So far 170-175 has been my max speed for this one. Tonight I wanted to push myself so I set the electronic tabla at 180.

This was also a great test of endurance. After doing all of my normal practice, I then focused on this long Taan for about 30 minutes. My hands were exhausted by the end!

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Long Sitar Practice: Paltas, Gat & Taans

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It’s been a busy week and sometimes life get’s in the way.

I needed to get in a decent sitar practice before my lesson so this video includes paltas, a gat and taans in raga yaman.

I am quickly approaching my 5 year anniversary of playing sitar and I’ve been struggling recently to find time to practice and it has slowed down my growth.  It’s been frustrating.  This isn’t some of my best playing, but I wanted to be honest about my progress and post the good with the bad.

For those new to this series, I am working to build up my speed. My teacher wants me to eventually play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

Sitar Gamak Riyaz Craziness

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I sort of lost my mind practicing this Taan that uses Gamak. I had been practicing it for hours. Sorry if I’m a bit too silly.

Gamak is a new technique for me and something I am really trying to get better at.

I think this is finally starting to improve especially by the end, but I would love to read your comments and feedback.

Check out the video teaching how I tape my fingers

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Tonight I kept things slow so I could focus on the basics.

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New Tough Sitar Taans

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Hi, I’m Jeff Starr, a sitar student and filmmaker. Last week my sitar teacher revised one of my existing taans to expand it further.

It’s not super complicated, but he wants me to build up my speed so that I can play my sitar taans at 250 beats per minute (bpm). And, this one started getting really hard at at 175 bpm.

I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this one “3P.”

Let’s see how fast I can get today!

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

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Debut sitar performance in NYC

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My teacher said that he booked me for a sitar performance in NYC this December!

I am stressing out!  Back in November 2015 I had my first public performance. I was background music for an event at the Pakistan Mission to The United Nations. It was an honor to be invited to play there, but I was REALLY nervous about it.

In tonight’s video I reflect on that performance, where I am now with my training and I show a super old clip from 2012, after I had taken my third sitar lesson.  I’ve come a long way since then!

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Raga Yaman Gat and Taans

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Here is a video of me practicing gat and taans for Raga Yaman.

I am working to build up speed. My teacher wants me to play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Although I’ve been able to play a handful of taans at 200bpm, tonight I stayed at 170 BPM to try and clean up the technical errors in my playing.

If you like this video, please subscribe to my YouTube channel:
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You can watch more of my sitar videos at this YouTube Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaTbnoUuEbU3lBS56ci0HIf59ICXdwnhx

Raga Yaman Alap Practice 10-27-16

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In this video I am practicing my opening phrases to the Alap for Raga Yaman.

This is difficult stuff!

I struggled with some pitch issues and my attack on some notes is a little rough but this is all part of the learning process. Hopefully this is an improvement over my last Alap video.

Please leave comments and let me know what you think. I love to read feedback.

If you like this video and want to follow my progress learning the sitar, please subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/notbadfilms?sub_confirmation=1

Easy Sitar Taans? Let’s find out…

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I have been struggling with these two “easy” sitar taans.

Well, they SHOULD be easy but they are very deceiving and require a lot of accuracy.  I give all my my Sitar Taans nicknames. I call these “Run from Ni” and “Run from Re.”

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

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

How to play Sitar Fast: playing sitar at 200 beats per minute!

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Do you want to learn how to play sitar fast?  So do I!

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 200 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

Here is a video of me practicing one of my Taans for Raga Yaman. I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this one “Confused #1.”

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

The Fastest I Have Ever Played This Sitar Taan!

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People love fast sitar music.  But it’s really hard to do!

Here is a video of me practicing one of my Taans for Raga Yaman. I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 200 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can play tonight?

I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this: “1-2-3-4-5.” Although I may start calling it “Confidence” now.

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