--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-fr/faq/workshops-learning/can-a-western-guitarist-violinist-or-pianist-learn-to-play-indian-classical' title: 'Can a Western guitarist, violinist or pianist learn to play Indian classical music?' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-fr/user/4add8741a490747f' date: '2026-10-27T01:39:26+00:00' type: website summary: 'Yes, a Western guitarist, violinist or pianist can learn Indian classical music; KalaSudha teaches it online in live one-to-one lessons from Foundation.' tags: - 'Workshops & learning' image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:type': image/svg+xml 'image:alt': KalaSudha --- FAQ ยท Workshops & learning # Can a Western guitarist, violinist or pianist learn to play Indian classical music? Updated 27 October 2026 Yes, a Western guitarist, violinist or pianist can learn Indian classical music; KalaSudha teaches it online in live one-to-one lessons from **Foundation**. We add workshops and summer camps where enough learners sign up. The new part is the **raga**, a melodic framework of set notes, stressed notes and characteristic phrases. On the [Hindustani violin](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/violin), fingering and bowing join the notes. On [Indian slide guitar](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/indian-slide-guitar), a bar glides between them. The [piano](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/piano) cannot glide, so pianists learn to suggest **meend**, the glide between notes. In South Indian music, Ludwig Pesch writes, each note's ornament, its gamaka, depends on its melodic context. Was this answer helpful? [ ](/en-fr/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-1286&destination=/en-fr/faq/workshops-learning/can-a-western-guitarist-violinist-or-pianist-learn-to-play-indian-classical) [ ](/en-fr/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-1286&destination=/en-fr/faq/workshops-learning/can-a-western-guitarist-violinist-or-pianist-learn-to-play-indian-classical) Thanks for your feedback! ## Related pages 4 pages mention this question ### Discipline (4) - [ Guitar Carnatic guitar is South Indian classical music on an electric instrument, played since the 1970s. Its test is the gamaka, the pitch movement of a raga. ](/en-fr/instrumental/carnatic-classical/guitar) - [ Piano The piano in Hindustani classical music is a small niche, its fixed keys unable to glide between notes. Recitals follow alap, jod and jhala, then a gat. ](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/piano) - [ Violin Hindustani violin is North Indian raga on the European instrument, with notes joined through fingering and bowing. In gayaki ang it follows khayal phrasing. ](/en-fr/instrumental/hindustani-classical/violin) - [ Violin The Carnatic violin is the European instrument retuned and played seated on the floor for South Indian classical music. In concert it shadows the singer. ](/en-fr/instrumental/carnatic-classical/violin) [ Previous question Can a Western guitarist learn Indian classical slide guitar by ear? ](/en-fr/faq/workshops-learning/can-a-western-guitarist-learn-indian-classical-slide-guitar-by-ear) [ Next question Can an adult beginner learn sitar online? ](/en-fr/faq/workshops-learning/can-an-adult-beginner-learn-sitar-online)