I am inserting this thread into Cafe Society since it’s the topic is musical. Move if necessary.
I am a sitarist. Are there other sitar playing Dopers among us? I’m talking about a real acoustic sitar (made of wood and gourd) rather than an electric sitar, which looks similar to a guitar.
If yes, how many main strings and sympathetic strings? How many various tunings do you use? How long have you played? How did you learn? …etc
For me, I have played sitar for 2 years, but have played guitar (6 and 12 strings; electric and acoustic) for 10 years. My sitar has 7 main and 11 sympathetic strings. I typically tune the main strings top to bottom CCGCCCF or CCGGCCF or also those same tunings 1/2 step lower. The sympathetic strings are usually ‘C’ scale or slight variations especially if I move a couple ‘frets.’ I can get into more detail about this if the thread draws any interest for more. I began learning from a couple basic books I bought on eBay. From there, I just learned songs by ear. I can play The Beatles ‘Love to you’ from Revolver and also songs by Alberto Marsicano, who records sitar covers of known songs in addition to composing his own works. Also, I can jam and fluidly improvise on the sitar. I have some old Shankar LPs but I find it difficult to learn his pieces by ear. Plus, Ravi’s speed baffles me.
Are there any good resources out there to help one become an advance sitar player?
I’ll give you a bump. I honestly couldn’t call myself a sitar player I am a guitar player and I own one, and some of the proper one-finger-picks that you clamp over your index finger. I wasn’t aware that there were alternative tunings(!) I have a diagram for tuning and I’ve always used that IIRC it’s based on C though there isn’t a concept of key as such in Indian music. Without going home and counting them I don’t know how many drone/sympathetic strings it has (or should have) but the overall layout is very like the sitar in your picture. (BTW I think the proper playing position has the lower gourd resting on you left foot, or is that Yoga :)).
I have my own question. My sitar is now missing some drone strings and several sympathetic strings. I have a full spare set of strings but have little idea as to how to re-string it. Especially the sympathetic strings, is there a proper way to get them through the holes in the neck and onto the tuning pegs, or is that just going to be a very fiddly job?
I don’t think there’s any alternative to personal tuition. Indian music has quite different basic concepts to western music. The little I know (knew) came from books (that’s where the tuning diagram came from). I don’t remember any details but I do remember there being dozens (or more?) Ragas which are almost but not quite entirely unlike scales, for inst’ you have different Ragas for the time of day, can’t say that about the harmonic minor.
These are called ‘mizrabs’ or sometimes ‘plectrums.’ I also have pinky mizrabs that are used for stroking the drone and chikari (top two) strings while the index finger is busy playing the melody string.
Changing strings is somewhat painstaking. Be sure to mark your bridge placements if you choose to remove all the strings at once. It helps to a hook of some kind: small paper clips work great if you straighten them out leaving a single hook. For the sympathetic strings, thread one through the appropriate hole and stick the paper clip hook into the tuning peg’s socket to grab the string and pull it out. Then, tie the string to its peg, cut off any excess string, and insert peg back into socket and tune. I form a loop and twist tie the string at the other to attach it to the bottom of the instrument.
If you break one sympathetic string and need to replace it while drone strings are in the way, then it requires threading the new string underneath the frets and drone/main strings. It makes it easier if a second person holds the bottom end of the string while you work on tying it to the tuning peg.
This statement is true but I am not so flexible. My way seems to work well and keeps me somewhat comfortable.
I’m aware of (and sometimes even abide by) the various raga moods associated with time of day. Some of the ragas require frets to be moved and sympathetic strings to be tuned accordingly. I am not absolutely certain about the exact number of ragas since the number is not the same among the books and websites I have read. According to this site, there are thousands of ragas, but 6 of them are considered to be fundamental. I believe this website to be correct in saying so.
Also, from what I understand, Indian music does not have exact frequency pitches designated to each note unlike western music. For example, the A note above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hz. In classical Indian music, the notes just need to be in harmony with each other (i.e. frequency ratios need to remain consistent).
I forgot to mention that sometimes I play w/ 6 main strings. I remove the top (and also highest pitch) C string. I sometimes hear Shankar that are distinctly missing that top ‘chikari’ string.
Ashwin Batish has made videos for sitar instruction available for online purchase, but I’m not sure if these are worth my investment since they may just tell me what I already know. As far as getting personal lessons, sitar gurus aren’t exactly a dime a dozen here in central Kentucky. I am nearly satisfied with my knowledge of the sitar and Indian music, but I lack certain techniques. I hear some of Shankar’s licks but am not certain how to create them myself.
It certainly sounds beautiful when fine tuned. If I’m playing out the sitar somewhere on the campus lawn under a tree, then people walk up and ask ‘what is that thing?’ Despite The Beatles introducing sitar music to western culture, many are still not familiar with them by appearance.
