Learn About Music Instruments

I am looking for a fairly cheap sitar. Any links would help or if you have one and want to sell it let me know and leave your email.

There are a few things you need to know before buying a cheap sitar. You can find them on eBay for around $350, but the quality and set-up are unknown. A lot of sitars are made for the tourist trade…they look good leaning in a corner but aren’t going to be playable. Some of the necks can develop a twist (as opposed to a warp) and there is also an art to setting up the bridges (jawari) so that the strings give the characteristic buzz. Since sitars are hand-made, unless you get one from a reputable dealer, you just can’t be assured of the quality.

The Ali Akbar College was recommended to me by a Sitar instructor and I’ll pass the recommendation on to you. I bought a good quality student model for around $650. They have a slightly less fancy one for $550. Before buying a sitar, new or used, be sure to read their buying guide:
http://aacm.org/shop/index.php?main_page=page&id=2&chapter=10

Here are their sitar models for sale:
http://aacm.org/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=72_83&sort=20a&page=1

yeah, i’m getting a Sitar pretty soon and i don’t know the tunings, and so far all the instruments i’ve played that are like the Guitar, all i’ve had to do is learn the tunings and i usually didn’t need a book. However, since this is a chordophone i will probably find a book or a free online tutor.

http://www.sitarsetc.com/sitartuning.htm

http://www.joerizzo.com/sitar/index.htm

I live in Philadelphia & i’m interested in buying a Sitar in a store before resorting to the internet. Prices don’t matter but do you know of a place?
Thanx!

There is a sitar player named Shafaatullah Khan who lives in the area of Philadelphia. He is an outstanding sitar player, and if you can contact him (google him, and find his website), and he is bound to point you in the right direction.

I live in Philadelphia & i’m interested in buying a sitar in a store before resorting to the internet. Prices don’t matter but do you know of a place?
Thanx!

There is a Sitar player named Shafaatullah Khan who lives in the area of Philadelphia. He is an outstanding sitar player, and if you can contact him (google him, and find his website), and he is bound to point you in the right direction.

I’m a college student who will be home for winter break outside of Boston and I’d like to find a place to rent a sitar for a month, so I can try playing and see if I enjoy it, but I can’t find anywhere that locally sells sitars, let alone rents them. Does anyone know any place or have an idea where i could start?

I think you might be out of luck. I’ve only ever known one place that sold Sitars in boston but they went out of business. The only place that might be able to hook you up with something is the Learnquest Academy of Music in Waltham. I am not sure if they are teaching sitar right now though and if they have instruments available for practice or student use.

I’m doing a diploma in Sitar, and so am playing and practicing more frequently. Because of this, my index finger skin has not yet gotten used to the strings and after 20mins or so i have to stop because i can’t apply pressure to the strings! So, any good remedies to ease this pain, until the skin toughens?? Thanks!

You can put a band aid around your index finger to cushion it a bit until your fingers get more accustomed to playing.

I’m doing a diploma in Sitar, and so am playing and practicing more frequently. Because of this, my index finger skin has not yet gotten used to the strings and after 20mins or so i have to stop because i can’t apply pressure to the strings! So, any good remedies to ease this pain, until the skin toughens?? Thanks!

You can put a band aid around your index finger to cushion it a bit until your fingers get more accustomed to playing.

I really want to learn how to play the sitar. I can play Guitar fairly well. How much should I spend on a decent one? Where should I purchase one? Need information Please:)

wow groovy – the sitar !

how classical lol

why not give ravi shankar a phone call ?

if hes still alive. (ok he is, i just wiki’d him up and it clearly states hes not dead)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar

and if hes not busy teaching washed up celebs on how to play music for the soul lol

just pick up the phone and be all like " hey Ravi ! guess what , I have a Sitar ! can you teach me how to play it ! ? "

and then ravi might say: " sorry – off duty, f@@k off – goodbye- and god bless " <hangs up the phone>

im KIDDING !

look.

find out if there are any professional sitar tutors out there, just like one would do if they wanted to learn Piano.

seriously though, unless you have any mates who are uber talented on the sitar – yourbest bet is to search for local sitar instructors.

it will be worth it, you’ll start taking the instrument seriously and each month you will notice yourself becoming more adept with the instrument and it’ll be a rewarding experience.

I’ve always maintained the belief that every human being on earth should learn how to play at least ONE instrument.

we’d have less wars that way. and more love.

om namaste lets strum the sitar and smoke hemp !

all the best

MR LFC ANFIED REDS

I want a beginner Sitar, nothing crazy expensive, maybe in the $400 range? And probably not full size, the things bigger than i am. help?

hope this helps….

http://www.austinbazaar.com/product/SH1153?meta=FRG&utm_source=GBASE&utm_medium=CPC&utm_content=&utm_campaign=

ok so here are some of the questions. It would help even if you only answered one. thank you.
What type of instrument is the Sitar?
how is it played?
a brief history about its Development.
What is its role within Indian Classical music.

What was Ravi Shankar’s training like, style of performance like and places he has performed.

If you could help that would be great. thanks. x

Check the links out for wikipedias pages on Sitar and the master Ravi. The man is a genius musician, have a few of his cds, so relaxing to listen to and love the sound of the tabla Drums and tambura with the sitar.

added – you should get the answer to all your questions on the links, if not, at the bottom of the pages on wikipedia is usually links for further reading