How can a blues or lap steel slide player learn to play ragas?

A blues or lap steel slide player learns ragas from a teacher, in lessons called talim, with daily practice, riyaz, in between. A lap steel player already holds the bar over a guitar laid flat across the lap, as on Indian slide guitar. A blues player who wears the slide on a finger moves to that lap position.

The raga is the new part: its notes, set by ear because nothing on the strings fixes the pitch, and meend, the glide that joins them. You can learn with KalaSudha in live online lessons, with workshops and summer camps where enough learners sign up. Your teacher first reviews where you stand. See our courses.