What You'll Learn
Course Curriculum
| Week | Topic | What You'll Learn | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Origins and traditions
|
Discover how slide guitar entered Indian classical music and its cultural significance.
|
|
|
2
|
Masters & their styles
|
Learn about pioneering artists and the different playing styles they developed.
|
|
|
3
|
Know Your Instrument
|
Understand the parts of the slide guitar and how to handle it correctly.
|
|
|
4
|
Essential Accessories & Uses
|
Explore slides, picks, and other tools, and learn how they affect sound.
|
|
|
5
|
Indian and Western Notes
|
Learn the basics of swaras (Indian notes) and how they connect with Western scales.
|
|
|
6
|
Practicing Swaras
|
Begin practical exercises with natural, flat, and sharp notes.
|
|
|
7
|
Right-Hand Techniques
|
Train your right hand to pluck, strike, and produce clear tones.
|
|
|
8
|
Hand Coordination
|
Improve timing, accuracy, and smooth coordination between both hands.
|
|
|
9
|
Basic Rhythmic Patterns (Taal)
|
Learn simple rhythmic cycles and how to practice along with them.
|
|
|
10
|
Indian Notation Basics
|
Understand the basics of writing, reading, and interpreting Indian classical notation.
|
|
|
11
|
Exploring Octaves
|
Practice playing across different octaves with stability and precision.
|
|
|
12
|
Simple Compositions
|
Combine everything learned to perform elemental compositions with confidence.
|
|
1
Week 1
Origins and traditions
2
Week 2
Masters & their styles
3
Week 3
Know Your Instrument
4
Week 4
Essential Accessories & Uses
5
Week 5
Indian and Western Notes
6
Week 6
Practicing Swaras
7
Week 7
Right-Hand Techniques
8
Week 8
Hand Coordination
9
Week 9
Basic Rhythmic Patterns (Taal)
10
Week 10
Indian Notation Basics
11
Week 11
Exploring Octaves
12
Week 12
Simple Compositions
About This Course
Course Level: - Level 1A
Complete this level to build a strong foundation for advanced studies.
This course is designed to give beginners in music learning an intense and enjoyable start on the Indian Slide Guitar. Over 12 weeks, students will explore the instrument's cultural roots and the essential techniques needed to begin playing confidently, under the guidance of great maestro Pandit Debasis Chakroborty.
We start by introducing the story of the slide guitar in Indian Classical Music, learning how it developed and the masters who shaped its unique style. Alongside this, students will get comfortable with their own instrument, understanding its parts, how to hold it, and the accessories that bring out its best sound.
From there, the focus shifts to the building blocks of music: Swaras (notes). Students will learn to recognise and practice Shuddh (natural), Komal (flat), and Tivra (sharp) swaras while gradually developing a clear, steady tone. Simple right-hand and left-hand techniques are introduced on the Guitar, followed by exercises that improve coordination between these two hands and the associated fingers and picks.
Rhythm plays a central role in Indian Music, so the course also covers basic rhythmic patterns (taal) and the fundamentals of the Indian notation system. As skills progress, students will practice moving across the lower, middle, and upper octaves, strengthening their control and musical range.
The course concludes with the practice of simple compositions, allowing students to bring together everything they have learned. By the end of Foundation Level 1, each student will have gained essential lifetime technical skills and the confidence to play their first complete pieces on the slide guitar, a meaningful first step into the rich world of Indian Classical Music.
We at KalaSudha are looking forward to being part of your musical journey!
Meet Your Instructor
Learn from a master of the craft
About pandit Debasis
Teaching Philosophy
On the slide, the string does not merely vibrate; it speaks. The soul of the raga finds its voice in every glissando, and the silence between notes carries as much meaning as the sound itself.
Specializations
Affiliations
- Visiting Artist / Artist-in-Residence - Monash University (Melbourne) – 2008, 2013, 2015, 2024
- Visiting Artist - California State University (Fresno, USA) – 2017 to 2019
- Resource Person at World Congress of Music Therapy - Japan 2017, Korea 2011
- ICCR Empanelled Artist - Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India
Education
- Associate Professor (Music), Mangalayatan University
- Expert, UGC-NET Bureau
- Member, Music Audition Board – All India Radio
Notable Achievements
- Melbourne International Jazz Festival (2015 & 2024)
- World Congress of Music Education – China & Italy
- Music for Harmony & Peace Tour (UK 2023) organised by KalaSudha
- Carnegie Art Centre & California State University Concert Halls (USA Tours 2017–19)
- Illawarra Folk Festival (Australia 2015)
- WFMT World Conference on Music Therapy (Japan 2017)