Learning the Sitar

The sitar has been popular since the 1960s. Since that time it has always had a considerable mystique among musicians. It also has an undeserved reputation for being difficult to play. This book/online audio set cuts though the mystique and misapprehensions and presents the material in a simple fashion that is easily understood both by Indians and non-Indian musicians alike.


Learning the Sitar begins with basic background information, including a discussion of Indian music, the history of the instrument, the sitar parts, and other important terms. It then moves on to basic exercises and some simple compositions in Bilawal, Kalyan, and Kafi. This is covered in a mix of staff notation and traditional Indian Sargam notation. Includes access to online audio.