---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-jp/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-an-indian-slide-guitar'
title: 'What is an Indian slide guitar?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-jp/user/4add8741a490747f'
date: '2026-09-04T15:21:07+00:00'
updated: '2026-10-24T13:07:29+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'The Indian slide guitar lies flat on the lap, and the player stops it with a steel bar. It is an instrument of Hindustani classical music you can learn with…'
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  - 'Instruments & artforms'
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  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 · Instruments &amp; artforms

# What is an Indian slide guitar?

 Updated 24 October 2026

 

The **Indian slide guitar** is a guitar laid flat across the lap and stopped with a steel bar instead of fingers on frets. It is an instrument of **Hindustani classical music**, the classical music of North India. Sympathetic strings ring underneath the melody unstruck, and the player plucks extra drone (chikari) strings.

The bar never leaves the string, so one note travels into the next without a break. For its history and players, see the [Indian slide guitar](/en-jp/instrument/indian-slide-guitar) page. You can learn it with KalaSudha in the [online academy](/en-jp/courses).



 

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## Related pages

 17 pages mention this question

 

 

###  Artists (1) 

- [   Debasis Chakroborty Pandit Debasis Chakroborty, senior-most disciple of Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra, plays Hindustani slide guitar. Hear him and learn with him at KalaSudha.     ](/en-jp/artist/debasis-chakroborty)
 
  

###  Events (15) 

- [   London Ragas: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty &amp; Ustad Akram Khan Pandit Debasis Chakroborty brings Indian slide guitar to London Ragas, with Ustad Akram Khan on tabla. Sat 26 Sept, The Tate Institute, doors 5:45 PM     ](/en-jp/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan)
- [   Kala Festival 2026: Rhythms of Ragas &amp; of Feet KalaSudha's third Kala Festival concert at The Bhavan, London: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty's Indian slide guitar and Ustad Akram Khan's tabla, then Kathak from…     ](/en-jp/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet)
- [   Bristol Ragas: Slide &amp; Strum on The Mystic Frets A unique musical journey that bridges the ancient traditions of Indian Classical Music with the expressive freedom of Western Guitar playing     ](/en-jp/event/bristol-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets)
- [   Norwich Ragas: Slide &amp; Strum on The Mystic Frets A unique musical journey that bridges the ancient traditions of Indian Classical Music with the expressive freedom of Western Guitar playing at St Andrew's Hall     ](/en-jp/event/norwich-ragas-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets)
- [   Cambridge Ragas: Resonance of Sitar, Slide Guitar, and Tabla Experience the depth of Indian Classical Music in Cambridge on Sept 20 at Junction. Sitar, Slide Guitar, Tabla, and renewal await!     ](/en-jp/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla)
- [   Reading Raga Resonance: Slide &amp; Strum on The Mystic Frets A unique musical journey that bridges the ancient traditions of Indian Classical Music with the expressive freedom of Western Guitar playing. This special…     ](/en-jp/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets)
- [   Rhythms of India: KalaSudha's Cultural Odyssey (#1) The first concert of Rhythms of India: KalaSudha's Cultural Odyssey. Pandit Debasis Chakroborty plays ragas on the slide lap guitar at Britannia Village Hall,…     ](/en-jp/event/rhythms-of-india-kalasudhas-cultural-odyssey-1)
- [   The Art of Classical Slide Guitar – A Workshop by Pt. Debasis Chakraborty Join renowned Slide Guitarist Pt. Debasis Chakraborty’s exclusive workshop on Indian Classical Guitar &amp; Ragas, in Pt. Kabra’s tradition.     ](/en-jp/event/the-art-of-classical-slide-guitar-a-workshop-by-pt-debasis-chakraborty)
- [   Eternal Echoes: From Ancient Voice to Modern Strings in Cambridge Dhrupad voice and drone, then the Trinity Trio at Lee Seng Tee Hall, Cambridge: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty's slide guitar, Deepak Shah's piano and Ustad Akram…     ](/en-jp/event/eternal-echoes-from-ancient-voice-to-modern-strings-in-cambridge)
- [   East meet West: Pianist Raymond Yiu × Deepak Shah with Tabla &amp; Slide Guitar Award-winning pianists Raymond Yiu &amp; Deepak Shah unite East and West, joined by other maestros, Ustad Akram Khan and Pt Debasis Chakroborty.     ](/en-jp/event/east-meet-west-pianist-raymond-yiu-deepak-shah-with-tabla-slide-guitar)
- [   Norwich Ragas: Piano &amp; Slide Guitar Unbound Piano and Indian slide guitar play ragas over tabla at The Assembly House, Norwich: a Kala Festival 2025 double bill with Deepak Shah, Pandit Debasis…     ](/en-jp/event/norwich-ragas-piano-slide-guitar-unbound)
- [   Trinity Trio: Debasis Chakroborty, Deepak Shah, and Durjay Bhaumik Embrace a magical musical journey at Dartington Trust Hall with 'Trinity Trio: Debasis Chakroborty, Deepak Shah, and Durjay Bhaumik'. Part of the 'Kala…     ](/en-jp/event/trinity-trio-debasis-chakroborty-deepak-shah-durjay-bhaumik-darlington-trust-hall)
- [   Concert for Harmony &amp; Peace Join us at The Bhavan on August 19th for a special "Music for Harmony and Peace" event. Timed to coincide with India's Independence Day, this concert promotes…     ](/en-jp/event/concert-for-harmony-and-peace-debasis-chakroborty-deepak-shah-durjay-bhaumik)
- [   An Instrumental Journey Through the Nature Join us for "An Instrumental Journey Through Nature" at Norden Farm. This event brings the beauty of Indian classical music to life with Debasis Chakroborty on…     ](/en-jp/event/instrumental-journey-through-nature-debasis-chakroborty-deepak-shah-durjay-bhaumik)
- [   Music Without Boundaries Experience the transformative power of music at 'Music Without Boundaries', a special event under the 'Kala Festival' banner. This concert celebrates music as…     ](/en-jp/event/music-without-boundaries-debasis-chakroborty-deepak-shah-durjay-bhaumik)
 
 Show all 15 events  

###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Indian Slide Guitar The Indian slide guitar is a lap-held guitar played with a slide and tuned for raga. Brij Bhushan Kabra brought it into raga music, and sympathetic strings…     ](/en-jp/instrument/indian-slide-guitar)
 
  

 

 

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