The Hal Leonard Sitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play the Sitar. This comprehensive and easy-to-use beginner's guide serves as an introduction to Sitar and its technique as well as the practice theory and history of raga music. The accompanying audio includes 42 tracks for demonstration and play-along. Lessons include: choosing an instrument; tuning; postures; right- and left-hand technique; Indian notation; raga forms; melodic patterns; bending strings; hammer-ons pull-offs and slides; changing strings; recommended listening; and much more!

The Sitar has been popular since the 1960s. Since that time it has always had a considerable mystique among musicians. It also has an undeserved reputation for being difficult to play. This book/audio set cuts though themystique and misapprehensions and presents the material in a simple fashion that is easily understood. Learning The Sitar begins with basic background information including a discussion of Indian music the history of the instrument the parts and other important terms. It then moves on to basic exercises and finally finishes with some simple compositions in Bilawal Kalyan and Kafi. This is covered in a mix of staff notation aswell as raditional Indian Sargam notation. This book includes access to online audio.