Indian Slide Guitar · Indian Slide Guitar
Foundation Indian Slide Guitar
Foundation Indian slide guitar lessons for beginners: tuning, bar control, rhythm and first raga phrases, with 36 path topics across modules 1A, 1B and 1C.
with Debasis Chakroborty
Indian slide guitarist, Senia-Maihar gharana
- 3 modules
- 36 topics
About this course
36 path topics across three modules
Foundation Indian slide guitar lessons introduce Hindustani raga, a melodic framework, through a guitar held flat across your lap and played with a slide bar. You need no previous guitar experience or knowledge of notation. Foundation is the first level of the programme prepared by KalaSudha.
Modules 1A, 1B and 1C give you a path of 36 topics. Each module has 14 available topics: eight core topics and six electives. Your teacher fills four open slots from the electives, their own topics or both, alongside the eight core topics. Guided rehearsal and a review close each module.
You begin by tuning and sounding clean notes with the bar still. You find Sa and Pa, the tonic and fifth, by ear and learn Da and Ra, the two plucking strokes. Melodic exercises then develop pitch and rhythm. In the final module you learn phrases in one raga and a short alap, its unmetered opening.
Use an instrument your teacher approves; a lap steel guitar can suit Foundation. Your teacher sets the tuning for your instrument. You learn common core skills, while their playing style comes through the electives and their own topics. Set aside time for daily practice and record your work for feedback.
You can learn live online one-to-one or in a group. A topic stays open until your teacher reviews and closes it, so 36 topics need not mean 36 lessons. Foundation ends with your raga presentation and leads to KalaSudha's Sthayi Certificate. The Intermediate level builds on these skills.
Learning objectives
- Set up your instrument and tune it to your teacher's reference.
- Hold the bar still for clean notes and play Da and Ra at equal volume.
- Find Sa and Pa by ear and play the octave in tune.
- Play melodic exercises across the range and follow a counted rhythmic cycle.
- Read and write note patterns with the plucking strokes marked.
- Present an early alap and short phrases in one raga for teacher review.
The three Foundation modules
Start with the instrument and your ear, then put melodic exercises into a rhythmic cycle. The final module joins these skills in short raga phrases and a reviewed presentation.
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Module 1A: instrument and bar control
Set up and tune your instrument, then learn to hold the bar for clean notes. Practise Da and Ra, the inward and outward plucking strokes, at equal volume. Find Sa and Pa by ear and play the seven notes of the middle octave.
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Module 1B: melodic exercises and rhythm
Carry melodic exercises into the lower and upper octaves and keep both plucking strokes even as the pace rises. Count Teentaal, the suggested 16-beat cycle, and read and write note patterns. Compare recordings, then rehearse your exercises with a rhythmic accompaniment.
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Module 1C: first raga phrases
Learn the first raga your teacher chooses, its ascent and descent, and the phrases that identify it. Begin an alap, the unmetered opening, and practise short glides between notes. Play phrases with tabla, then present your work for Foundation review.
Your learning journey
Curriculum
Sthayi 1A · The Instrument, the Bar and the Two Strokes
14 available topics; 12 on your path.Core topics Every learner takes these 8
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Topic 01
The Instrument, Seating and Setup
Meet the slide guitar your teacher plays, sit with it flat on the lap, and learn its string groups: main strings, chikari and tarab where the instrument has them.
Ready to move on when: You can set the instrument on the lap and name each string group and what it does.
Resources: Demo video · Notes: the instrument and its string groups · Recording of your teacher playing a short piece
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Topic 02
Tuning the String Groups
Tune the main strings to the tuning your teacher sets for your instrument, set the chikari to Sa, and hear what the tarab add.
Ready to move on when: You can tune every string group to the reference within a few passes and hear a string that has drifted.
Resources: Demo video · Reference note track · Notes: your teacher's tuning, string by string (needs making per teacher)
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Topic 03
Bar Hold and Clean Contact
Hold the bar so it touches the strings with no buzz and no pressure past the point of clarity.
Ready to move on when: You can sound one clean note eight times with the bar still and no buzz.
Resources: Demo video, close on the left hand · Reference recording of a clean note
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Topic 04
The Right Hand and the Two Strokes, Da and Ra
Set the right hand on the strings, then play the inward stroke Da and the outward stroke Ra at equal volume.
Ready to move on when: You can play sixteen alternating Da and Ra strokes on one string with no difference in volume you can hear.
Resources: Demo video, close on the right hand · Notation: Da and Ra marked
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Topic 05
Finding Sa and Pa
Find Sa and Pa on the main string by ear against the tanpura, then confirm them with the tuner.
Ready to move on when: You can land Sa and Pa from a cold start, in tune with the tanpura, five times in a row.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track
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Topic 06
Mapping the First Saptak
Play the seven shuddha swaras of the middle octave up and down, landing each one rather than sliding into it.
Ready to move on when: You can play the saptak up and down twice in slow laya with every swara in tune.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track · Notation: the saptak
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Topic 07
Intonation Under Guided Correction
A guided rehearsal: play the module's material to your teacher and fix the swaras that drift, one at a time.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher hears no swara drift in a slow run of the saptak and Sa-Pa.
Resources: Your recordings from this module · Tanpura track
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Topic 08
Module 1A Review and Presentation
Present setup, tuning, clean notes, Da and Ra and the saptak in one short sitting.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher closes the module after reviewing your presentation recording.
Resources: Checklist: what the presentation covers
Electives Your teacher fills 4 open slots from these electives, their own topics or both.
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Elective
Straight Bar Movement Between Notes
Move the bar from one swara to the next and stop it there, with no slide heard between them.
Ready to move on when: You can move between any two neighbouring swaras eight times with no audible glide.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track
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Elective
Tone Across Repeated Notes
Play one swara many times and keep its tone, length and volume the same each time.
Ready to move on when: You can play twelve repeats of one swara that sound alike on the recording.
Resources: Demo video · Reference recording
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Elective
First Paltas in Slow Laya
Play the first three paltas (alankar patterns) your teacher sets, in slow laya, up and down the octave.
Ready to move on when: You can play three paltas up and down at slow laya with no stopped or missed swara.
Resources: Demo video · Notation: the paltas · Tanpura track
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Elective
Style: the Kabra Instrument and Hand
The instrument as Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra set it for raga, with chikari and tarab, and his hand: the thumb on the chikari, index and middle on the main strings.
Ready to move on when: You can hold the hand position through a slow saptak and strike the chikari without losing the main string.
Resources: Demo video · Notes: the Kabra setup and hand (needs making)
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Elective
Style: the Mohan veena setup
The Mohan veena: its string groups, how it sits, and how its tuning differs from other slide instruments.
Ready to move on when: You can name the Mohan veena's string groups and tune the main strings to your teacher's reference.
Resources: Demo video · Notes: the Mohan veena and its strings (needs making)
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Elective
Sing Sa to Pa Before Playing It
Sing Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa against the tanpura, then play what you sang, so the ear leads the bar.
Ready to move on when: You can sing and then play Sa to Pa with the played swaras matching the sung ones.
Resources: Tanpura track · Demo video
Sthayi 1B · Paltas, Strokes and the Cycle
14 available topics; 12 on your path.Core topics Every learner takes these 8
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Topic 01
Review of 1A and Hand Reset
Check the seating, bar and right hand set in 1A and correct what has slipped since.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher sees no posture or contact fault in a short run of 1A material.
Resources: Your 1A presentation recording · Checklist: posture and hand
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Topic 02
Paltas Across the Full Range
Carry the paltas from 1A into the lower and upper octaves.
Ready to move on when: You can play five paltas across the instrument's range at slow laya with every swara in tune.
Resources: Demo video · Notation: the paltas across octaves · Tanpura track
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Topic 03
Da-Ra Evenness at Speed
Raise the Da-Ra pair from slow to medium laya without the Ra stroke going weak.
Ready to move on when: You can play Da-Ra at medium laya for one minute with both strokes equal on the recording.
Resources: Demo video · Metronome or lehra track
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Topic 04
Teentaal: Theka, Sam and Counting
Count the sixteen-beat cycle with claps and waves, find sam and khali, and follow a lehra.
Ready to move on when: You can count Teentaal against a lehra for four cycles and land on sam each time.
Resources: Teentaal lehra track · Notes: theka, tali and khali
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Topic 05
Reading and Writing Swara and Tala Notation
Read and write sargam and tala in the notation the course uses, with Da and Ra marked.
Ready to move on when: You can write a palta you play in notation and play one you are given from notation.
Resources: Notes: the notation system · Notation exercises
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Topic 06
Listening: how the slide guitar came to raga
Hear short recordings from the Kabra and Barun Kumar Pal slide lines and from a Maihar sarod. Describe differences in tone, ornament and stroke.
Ready to move on when: You can say, for two recordings, one thing each player does that the other does not.
Resources: Listening list: one short track per line (suggested, teacher to confirm) · Notes: the instruments of the slide lines
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Topic 07
Guided Rehearsal: Paltas Against the Cycle
Play the module's paltas over a Teentaal lehra with your teacher correcting laya and landing.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher hears every palta start and end on sam over the lehra.
Resources: Teentaal lehra track · Your recordings from this module
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Topic 08
Module 1B Review and Rhythm Studies
Present the paltas across the range, Da-Ra at medium laya and the counted cycle.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher closes the module after reviewing your presentation recording.
Resources: Checklist: what the presentation covers · Teentaal lehra track
Electives Your teacher fills 4 open slots from these electives, their own topics or both.
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Elective
Keherwa and the Eight-Beat Cycle
Count Keherwa and play a palta inside it.
Ready to move on when: You can play a palta over a Keherwa lehra for four cycles, landing on sam.
Resources: Keherwa lehra track · Notes: Keherwa theka
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Elective
Crossing Strings Without Noise
Move between main strings with the bar and right hand so no open string or bar noise sounds.
Ready to move on when: You can play a phrase across two strings four times with no stray sound.
Resources: Demo video, both hands in view
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Elective
Position Recall on the Fretless Board
Find any swara your teacher names, from a cold start, without sliding to search for it.
Ready to move on when: You can land eight named swaras in a row, each in tune at the first touch.
Resources: Tanpura track · Notes: board markers you may use
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Elective
Paltas in Dugun
Play paltas at double speed against the same lehra, two swaras to each beat.
Ready to move on when: You can switch a palta from single to double speed on sam without losing the cycle.
Resources: Teentaal lehra track · Notation: the paltas in dugun
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Elective
Style: Maihar Paltas and the Chikari Between Phrases
The alankar and palta drills of Ustad Allauddin Khan's Maihar teaching, with the chikari struck between phrases the sarod way.
Ready to move on when: You can play two Maihar paltas with chikari strokes placed where your teacher marks them.
Resources: Demo video · Notation: Maihar paltas with chikari marked (needs making)
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Elective
Style: Sitar-Ang Phrasing on the Slide
Phrasing from the sitar line, as Pandit Barun Kumar Pal carried it from Pandit Ravi Shankar onto the Hansa veena: how a phrase is struck and shaped.
Ready to move on when: You can play two sitar-ang phrases your teacher sets with the strokes and shape they ask for.
Resources: Demo video · Notation: the phrases · Listening: a Hansa veena recording (suggested)
Sthayi 1C · First Phrases in One Raga
14 available topics; 12 on your path.Core topics Every learner takes these 8
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Topic 01
Foundation Review and Intonation Fixes
Play back the 1A and 1B material and fix the swaras and strokes that still slip.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher hears no drifting swara in the saptak or paltas.
Resources: Your 1B presentation recording · Tanpura track
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Topic 02
The First Raga: Aroha, Avaroha, Pakad, Vadi and Samvadi
Learn the ascent, descent and catch phrase of the first raga (suggested: Yaman), and which two swaras carry its weight.
Ready to move on when: You can play aroha, avaroha and pakad in tune and name the vadi and samvadi.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track · Notation: aroha, avaroha, pakad · Notes: vadi and samvadi
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Topic 03
Phrase Shapes and Their Contour
Play three phrases of the raga and keep their contour under repetition.
Ready to move on when: You can play the three phrases six times each without the shape flattening.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track · Notation: the three phrases
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Topic 04
Early Alaap: Expanding from Sa
Open the raga slowly from Sa, adding one swara at a time and returning to Sa.
Ready to move on when: You can play two minutes of alaap that stays inside the raga and returns to Sa.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track · Reference alaap recording
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Topic 05
Meend as Pitch Discipline: Short Glides
Glide between two neighbouring swaras and arrive exactly on the second.
Ready to move on when: You can play five short meends that arrive in tune, checked against the tanpura.
Resources: Demo video, close on the bar · Tanpura track
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Topic 06
Playing with Tabla
Play the raga's phrases over live or recorded tabla and keep them landing on sam.
Ready to move on when: You can play your phrase set with tabla for four cycles, landing every phrase on sam.
Resources: Teentaal tabla track · Notation: the phrase set
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Topic 07
Guided Mock Presentation
Rehearse the Foundation presentation with your teacher: alaap, phrases, and phrases with tabla.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher hears the whole set once through without a stop.
Resources: Checklist: the Foundation presentation
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Topic 08
Foundation Completion and Review
Present alaap and phrases in the first raga in one sitting.
Ready to move on when: Your teacher closes Foundation after reviewing your presentation recording.
Resources: Checklist: the Foundation presentation
Electives Your teacher fills 4 open slots from these electives, their own topics or both.
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Elective
The Raga's Altered Swara and Where It Sits
Place the raga's altered swara (tivra Ma, if the first raga is Yaman) and hear the moment it drifts.
Ready to move on when: You can play the altered swara and its shuddha neighbour as two distinct pitches on request.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track
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Elective
Pauses and Phrase Endings
End a phrase on a resting swara and let it ring before the next one starts.
Ready to move on when: You can play the phrase set with a clear rest after each phrase.
Resources: Demo video · Tanpura track
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Elective
Keeping a Phrase Set on Sam with a Lehra
Fit a short fixed set of the raga's phrases into the cycle so it starts and ends on sam.
Ready to move on when: You can play the set over a lehra for four cycles with every ending on sam.
Resources: Teentaal lehra track · Notation: the phrase set
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Elective
Style: Listening to Call of the Valley
Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra's 1967 recording with Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia: how the guitar first carried raga phrases.
Ready to move on when: You can point to two phrases on the recording and say how the bar shapes them.
Resources: Listening: Call of the Valley, tracks chosen by your teacher
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Elective
Style: gayaki phrasing on the Mohan veena
How a phrase sings on the Mohan veena: long held swaras and soft entries.
Ready to move on when: You can play two phrases of the raga with the held swaras and entries your teacher sets.
Resources: Demo video · Listening: a recording your teacher chooses
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Elective
Gayaki: the voice behind the slide
Sing each phrase of the raga first, then play it so the slide follows the voice.
Ready to move on when: You can sing and then play three phrases with the played contour matching the sung one.
Resources: Demo video · Listening: a vocal recording in the same raga (suggested)
Foundation pathway
How this level progresses
3 structured modules, taken in order.
Modules are taken in sequence
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Level 1A
Sthayi 1A · The Instrument, the Bar and the Two Strokes
- Topics
- 12 topics
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Level 1B
Sthayi 1B · Paltas, Strokes and the Cycle
- Topics
- 12 topics
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Level 1C
Sthayi 1C · First Phrases in One Raga
- Topics
- 12 topics
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A start for beginners
Begin without prior guitar experience or notation skills. Your teacher introduces the instrument and builds the habits you need through practice and review.
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Control in both hands
Learn clean bar contact and even plucking from the start. Practise holding a note in tune before you move between notes and shape phrases.
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Let your ear guide you
Find notes against a reference drone and listen for pitch drift. Your teacher uses that listening work to guide your bar control and tone.
- You need no previous guitar experience or knowledge of notation to start Foundation.
- Make time for daily practice between lessons and bring your work to your teacher for review.
Your guru
Debasis Chakroborty
Indian slide guitarist, Senia-Maihar gharana
Frequently asked questions
How can a beginner, a child or a player returning after a long break start learning Indian slide guitar?
Beginners learn Indian slide guitar with KalaSudha online and in workshops, starting at Foundation level. The first stage sets your posture, with the guitar flat across your lap, and teaches the slide in an open tuning. We teach children as well as adults; ask us about a starting age and about a size for a younger learner.
Players returning after a long break start again where they left off. Our courses run in levels, and your teacher first checks where you stand.
What equipment do I need for Foundation Indian slide guitar?
Foundation Indian slide guitar learners need an instrument their teacher approves; a lap steel guitar can suit this level. Bring a suitable bar and finger picks, a tuner and a tanpura or drone app.
You also need a way to record both hands and a notebook for notation. Ask your teacher to confirm the setup and tuning before you begin.
How long does it take to learn Indian slide guitar?
How quickly you learn Indian slide guitar depends on regular practice and on your ear, because a slide bar sets each pitch. At Foundation, with the guitar across your lap, you hold the bar still at one position and pluck one melody string until your teacher hears a clean attack.
Later stages add meend, a glide made by moving the bar after the pluck. Each level you complete on KalaSudha's courses earns an award, and the award records your learning hours. You learn live and one-to-one online, with workshops and summer camps where enough learners sign up.
What must I demonstrate to complete Foundation Indian slide guitar?
Foundation Indian slide guitar completion requires setup and tuning, clean bar contact and even Da and Ra plucking strokes. Find Sa and Pa, the tonic and fifth, by ear and play melodic exercises in tune within a counted cycle.
Present an early alap, the unmetered opening, and short phrases in one raga, including phrases with tabla. Your teacher reviews your work and closes the topics on your path.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!
Next steps
Ready to begin Foundation?
Join Debasis Chakroborty in Foundation Level.