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Anything to cap/protect my fingers when playing sitar? MELODIC INSTRUMENTS
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83 posts anandvyas 83 posts
anandvyas
Goop point Doc - i have always wondered about that - tried it last night and it works like a charm. Goota be careful on the smoothness of the application but it does work better then any tape i have used. Also i agree there is nothing thicker than an upright bass string in instruments - but do you not believe piano wire has a good tendency to cut through things (hence it being the weapon of choice in some mobster movies - backseat reach around) The point is that it is VERY sharp no? Good points all around - the super glue works when needed for sure the best - right on bro
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trippy monkey 4,281 posts
trippy monkey
Re my comment about how a player can ask these questions in his OP, has anyone noticed his name?

loser007!!!!!

Well, what can I say????

Nick
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
anandvyas wrote:
I apologize - i was mostly speaking of when we use harmonics - you are correct.
Harmonics? Could you please explain that?
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
trippy wrote:
Re my comment about how a player can ask these questions in his OP, has anyone noticed his name?

loser007!!!!!

Well, what can I say????

Nick
Maybe it's Timothy Dalton?
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anandvyas 83 posts
anandvyas
One can use harmonics at many places on the sitar - but the easiest is the middle Ma - this is how sitar walah's find where to put the Ma fret - from there it is easy to place the rest of the frets. I use them while playing as well as tuning. I am sure many do
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
anandvyas wrote:
One can use harmonics at many places on the sitar - but the easiest is the middle Ma - this is how sitar walah's find where to put the Ma fret - from there it is easy to place the rest of the frets. I use them while playing as well as tuning. I am sure many do
Sorry - I don't buy that.

use harmonics at many places?? By elimination?

Anyone can tune a pa or a ma fret. Just explain please how you use harmonics whilst playing????
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anandvyas 83 posts
anandvyas
I am not selling anything to you but - i have MANY recordings and have played concerts using harmonics DURING THE PERFORMANCE - especially with my Classical guitarist - i will run across at least four of the srtings at the MA fret - at the Sa fret lower and upper - 4+4+4 = 8 notes - One CAN use them. There is a recording called Heartstings that i have in which one can hear it take place. Again nothing to sell here - if you do not believe it then i really cannot do much except say i do it. Of course it is practically impossible to pull of at high speeds or during fast tans but they have there place
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
Does anyone - anyone - have any idea what this guy is talking about??
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CheesecakeTomek 513 posts
CheesecakeTomek
harmonics- as in placing your finger over a certain part of the string (haf way point, 1/3, 2/3 1/4, 3/4 are the easiest to get), without pushing down. When you pluck them, the note that sounds one of the overtones of the harmonic series of the note that string is tuned to. i.e. if said string is tuned to C, doing this at halfway would get you C an octave higher. At 1/3 i think, you get the 5th, and so on.

Then there is another type, where you fret any note, and, as above, touch a fourth higher, and you will sound the fretted note two octaves higher. This is a phenomenon of sound and can be accomplished on any string instrument.
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
Thanks CT - I am sure we are all familiar with the concept of harmonics, this isn't elementary school - but the question is - can you interpret what Anand is saying in his posts?
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CheesecakeTomek 513 posts
CheesecakeTomek
My apologies. Your uppermost post seemed to be asking a direct explanation of harmonics
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
CheesecakeTomek wrote:
My apologies. Your uppermost post seemed to be asking a direct explanation of harmonics
No - mine are due if I seemed rude, I just can't make out what point Anand is trying to make by referring to harmonics, either in terms of tuning ma fret or in strumming 4 strings..... can't make any sense out of that.
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anandvyas 83 posts
anandvyas
Counting from the Baaj string that is 1 - then the Jor string that is 2 - then the Pa Jor string that is 3 - then either the Kharaj or Pancham Vk String that is 4 minimum - also you can (if done correctly use the chikari Pancham string as in a Kharaj style sitar) In other words all of these can be used along the fret board during certain moments in the piece one is playing. Sorry if i am wrong but i guess my sitar does it - i do not know what to say i thought this was common knowledge
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ragamala Senior Member 1,744 posts
ragamala
Oh - you're just talking about strumming? I thought you were talking about some interesting technique. My mistake, I'll just go back to sleep... yawn....
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rex 674 posts
rex
Hi,

This was mentioned in another thread.. but you can try NexCare adhesive bandages by 3M. You can play on them for hours without any wear and they really take the edge off the pain, if you're just breaking in your calluses again. They're also reusable.

NexCare is probably not easily available in India...? You never know though, its worth hunting for.

I was in a mountaineering shop the other day (buying chalk for my pegs!) and spotted some finger protectors that rock climbers used. They seemed too heavy duty for sitar, but I'm sure there's something out there that might work.. I'm always interested in this topic too.. I'll keep looking .. !
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theprosperone 437 posts
theprosperone
ragamala wrote:
Oh - you're just talking about strumming? I thought you were talking about some interesting technique. My mistake, I'll just go back to sleep... yawn....
I don't think he was ever specifically referring to using harmonics while playing Hindustani music. Maybe he was talking about using harmonics while playing some type of fusion or less strict form of music on the sitar?

I can say I've heard many many many many hours of Hindustani music and I've never heard a single harmonic used in a Hindustani concert situation. This doesn't mean they can't be used on the sitar obviously. Maybe this was the confusion?
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