Sitar tuning/Indian Music Harmony

**Vorago** · #1 05-25-2005, 04:54 AM

Hi,

I have an old defretted strat lying around here, and I'd like to tune it Sitarwise...I did some googling, and came up with this for a standard tuning:

C C G C G C F

Are the two lowest C's octaved or tuned the same?

Another thing, could anyone here give me a quick walkthrough of Indian (eastern) harmony? I know there are only 5 notes, but much more variations. I think it could be done to incorporate the quarter notes, since the frets are gone

. I might be adding some extra markers tough. Problem is, that sitars have moveable frets, so the player basicly decides how he tunes the instrument.

Any sitarplayers here?

All information is welcome

dadodetres · #2 08-04-2005, 11:38 PM

sargebaker · #3 10-25-2005, 02:11 PM

I really wanna pick one up, they just sound so darn cool and look like a blast (probably damn hard too) to play! I have no idea how they really work or anything, I'm doing some research on them now. They have moveable frets which seems really weird/interesting (for lack of a better term)

probably be a little tough for me to get around. So I was just wondering if anyone out there plays or at least shares my interest

I have no idea where I could find one though (other than online) And is there a big difference with electric sitars, in terms of sound and anythign else I may be completely ignorant to at the moment

iamthebassman · #4 10-25-2005, 02:38 PM

I have a Jerry Jones Master Electric Sitar, play it on a couple songs in the set. Never played a "real" sitar tho'.

sargebaker · #5 10-25-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamthebassman

I have a Jerry Jones Master Electric Sitar, play it on a couple songs in the set. Never played a "real" sitar tho'.

how are the main strings tuned? and do you happen to have any recordings?

sargebaker · #6 10-26-2005, 02:16 PM

c'mon shelly!

Petary791 · #7 10-26-2005, 03:26 PM

I really want to get one. Supposedly an entry one is like $400. I'm kinda interested in one of the Rogue guitar sitar things.

sargebaker · #8 10-26-2005, 05:43 PM

Steve's (gosh i hate that store) said they used to stock one that came with a case that was about 500CAD$ and he sai the case was nicer than the actual sitar itself.... the search goes on!

And yes, the elctric sitars interest me too, if i end up ith one it'll probably be that.

iamthebassman · #9 10-27-2005, 08:13 AM

Here's my Jerry Jones Master Electric sitar:

iamthebassman · #10 10-27-2005, 08:17 AM

I haven't used it on any recordings yet, but I do use it live. It's tuned as a guitar, the "drone" strings are tuned to a D chord but you can do whatever you want with them.

werebunny · #11 01-03-2006, 06:20 AM

Check out Les Claypool's Fancy Band.. got Gabby on Sitar. Check out http://bt.etree.org/?search=les+claypool&cat=0 for some live bootlegs.

And here's a pic... http://www.wildlupin.com/claypool123...230069_JFR.htm

Mon Rominee · #12 01-03-2006, 06:27 AM

My group (collectively) bough one of the rogue sitars. Got it for like 300 bucks. Does the job, gets the sound (like the Jerry Jones) and is very playable. Pretty darn cool. Couldn't tell ya how the sympathetic strings are tuned tho, sorry.

I'd say it's worth it. We bought ours for a Tom Petty tribute show (don't come 'round here no more) and it pulled off nicely. We're gonna work a bit into the new record, Kula Shaker stylie.

Mon

edit:
Traditional Tuning:

The longest and lowest string is tuned an octave above the high E of a standard tuned guitar. From there the strings are tuned in half steps. This is just a starting point and experimentation can yield some beautiful sounds.

Another great tuning is to use a "dropped D" tuning (dropping the 6th E string down a full step to D) on the guitar neck; then the sympathetic strings would be tuned to a D7sus chord as follows (longest string to shortest string):

D - same note as 1st string of the guitar neck fretted at the 10th fret (the 1st string is tuned to standard E) F# - ascending G - ascending A - ascending C - ascending A - ascending G - ascending F# - ascending G - ascending A - ascending C - ascending D - ascending D - same as previous note

phxlbrmpf · #13 04-12-2006, 02:05 PM

I found a bunch of sitar videos on Google video by accident and while it does sound cool I can't help thinking that the technique used in those videos looks really awkward.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...2Bslap&pl=true

Doesn't this hurt your hand? Are they never played with a pick?

kserg · #14 04-12-2006, 02:27 PM

sitars might be great, people who play them freak me out... damn hippies.

**Vorago** · #15 04-12-2006, 02:29 PM

I just watched Ravi Shankar do it and he doesn't use a pick either, so I'm guessing plucking is the right way. A pick would seriously limit picking options btw.

**Thor** · #16 04-12-2006, 03:51 PM

Ravi = the ultimate extended range player. Much better than
those elevator Jaco 4 string riffs, pffft.

**Thor** · #17 04-12-2006, 03:53 PM

I was looking for one, Jimbo said he got a nice one on Ebay,
but right now I am working on a Benavente thing.

Who said 'damm hippie'? FOXEY!

trog · #18 04-12-2006, 04:21 PM

I've seen someone playing it with a sort of ring/thimble thing on their index finger.

MJ5150 · #19 04-12-2006, 05:21 PM

Last night on Discovery, there was a show about this dude who went on this journey of enlightenment to India.

When he got there, he made a point of going to this place that makes sitars. The name was something like Rikhi Ram's. I think the guy who owns the place is like India's version of Roger Sadowsky. The Beatles made it famous by stopping by and getting one. Very cool that this thread pops up the day after I saw that show.

-Mike

geoffkhan · #20 04-12-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf

Doesn't this hurt your hand? Are they never played with a pick?

Why would it hurt your hand? Just develops some callouses, like on bass...