Greek 6 String Bouzouki Technique Basics

[maksan532]

Hi, have played both Flamenco and steel string guitar at the amateur level for years. Now I want to start to learning to play the Greek Bouzouki. Unfortunately there are no teachers for this instrument in my area. I am having a difficult time, from reading and watching videos, understanding the left hand position on the neck and the right hand position when holding the pick. My understanding is that they are both different than for guitar and I don't want to develop incorrect form or bad habits. Any suggestions, advice or support with explanations, pictures or video links would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you

[DavidKOS]

Hi, have played both Flamenco and steel string guitar at the amateur level for years. Now I want to start to learning to play the Greek Bouzouki. Unfortunately there are no teachers for this instrument in my area. I am having a difficult time, from reading and watching videos, understanding the left hand position on the neck and the right hand position when holding the pick. My understanding is that they are both different than for guitar and I don't want to develop incorrect form or bad habits. Any suggestions, advice or support with explanations, pictures or video links would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you

Greek bouzouki left and right hand techniques are basically the same as guitar/mandolin techniques, other than the Greek style ornamentation.

My Greek teachers used a 4 finger left hand technique that is much like guitar, and the right hand picking is like steel-string guitar and mandolin.

Who told you it was so different?

Some bouzouki players do use a more limited fingering style when playing some older rebetiko music to imitate the more saz-like style of the early payers, but since the 50's the better players use all 4 fingers.

These may help:







Since most Greek music uses the A and D strings, you can learn from both 6 and 8 string players - most can play both.

https://www.doctor-dark.co.uk/rebeti...tionbooks.html

http://www.trigas.gr/en/book_categor...ring-bouzouki/

http://www.trigas.gr/en/lessons/

Skype lessons

Best of luck.

[Simon DS]

Here are some more scale exercises.
It’s a bit different on the octave (or mandolin) but that sometimes helps to loosen things up.
Enjoy!


https://youtu.be/a_CoAjHLNPg