The Art of Classical Slide Guitar – A Workshop by Pt. Debasis Chakraborty

Pundit Debasis Chakroborty is an internationally renowned Indian Classical Slide Guitarist, deeply rooted in the Senia-Maihar Gharana and trained under the legendary Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra. He has mastered both the Gayaki (vocal-inspired) and Tantrakari (instrumental) styles. An A-grade artist of all India Radio and Doordarshan, he has performed extensively. He continues across India, USA, UK, Australia, Europe, China, Malaysia, and Singapore, captivating global audiences with his unique blend of melody and rhythm.

Apart from his international performances, His collaborations with Western jazz musicians have led to groundbreaking projects. Pandit Chakroborty is an Artist-in-Residence at leading institutions, including Monash University (Australia) and California State University, Fresno (USA). He has conducted masterclasses and research in world music, inspiring musicians worldwide.

He has received prestigious awards, including the Gaurav Ratna Award (2023), the National Artist Award (2018), and the Gandharv Samman (2017). His contributions to music and academia are unparalleled. He has published extensively and continues to shape the future of Indian classical music through his research, mentorship, and spellbinding performances.

About the Workshop

This workshop provides a structured journey from fundamentals to advanced artistry, revealing hidden secrets like synchronisation techniques. Through live Q&A and interactive sessions, participants can engage directly with the maestro. Open to all passionate learners, it welcomes guitarists (acoustic/electric), slide guitar enthusiasts, sitar and violin players to explore slide techniques. Even music lovers curious about the fusion of ragas and slide guitar will find it enriching. (Intermediate skill recommended, but not mandatory.)

Workshop Highlights: A Journey Through Slide Guitar Mastery

• Foundations of Indian Classical Slide Guitar – Explore how this instrument bridges ancient traditions and modern innovation in Hindustani music.

• Exploring Slide Guitar Variants – Understand styles, from lap-style to modified acoustics, and their distinct tonal approaches.

• Tradition Meets Innovation – Master traditional tools like metal slides, chikari strings, and modern enhancements such as pickups and hybrid setups for optimal sound.

• Secret Techniques of the Maestros – Perfect fluid left-hand glides, unlock synchronisation between slides and picking, and master expressive ornamentation like meend (glissando), gamak (oscillations), and shruti (microtones).

• Tradition vs. Creativity – Learn to balance classical compositions (bandish) with improvisational freedom and understand when to follow or transcend the rules.

• The Architecture of Raga Development – Build a raga’s journey through alap (unmetered exploration), jod (rhythmic pulse), and jhala (climactic interplay).Rhythmic Dialogue with Tabla – Experience the thrill of jugalbandi and rhythmic interplay through tihai (rhythmic cycles) and layakari (tempo play).

• Interactive Q&A Session – Resolve technical challenges, witness live demonstrations of requested techniques, and play alongside the maestro in an interactive finale.

* A short performance demo will be held at the end of the workshop, along with some advanced-level participants.

A few of the performances from Pt. Debasis Chakroborty's previous visit to the UK: