Greek Music & Beyond
Online Greek Baglamas Lessons
Learn the Greek baglamas online — small in size, immense in character. Dromi, taximi, and authentic rebetiko technique, taught with the seriousness this instrument deserves.
The baglamas is one of the most distinctive instruments in Greek music — compact enough to hide under a coat, yet carrying a high, sharp, penetrating voice unlike anything else in the Mediterranean. In the early rebetiko world it was the instrument of the marginalised: played in the tekedes and the prisons of Piraeus and Athens. Instruments were often built by hand from whatever materials were available. Today it is undergoing a quiet revival among musicians drawn to its raw, concentrated sound and its deep connection to rebetiko tradition.
The baglamas shares much of its technique and repertoire with the bouzouki, but its higher tuning and shorter scale length give it a distinct voice and expressive character all its own. Its role in traditional ensemble playing — rhythmic drive, melodic doubling — follows a logic of its own. These lessons treat the baglamas as a serious instrument in its own right, not a miniature bouzouki.
What these baglamas lessons cover
- Tuning systems — standard D-A-D and alternatives, and how tuning shapes technique and modal playing
- Right-hand and left-hand technique specific to the baglamas — plectrum control, ornamentation, position shifts on a short neck
- The dromi of rebetiko as played on the baglamas — Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi and more
- Traditional rebetiko repertoire — songs and instrumentals with their characteristic phrasing and ornaments
- The baglamas in ensemble — its rhythmic and melodic roles alongside bouzouki, guitar, and voice
- Taximi and modal improvisation on a short-scale instrument
Who this is for
You do not need any prior experience — complete beginners are welcome. Bouzouki players will find the transition natural and will gain a new perspective on the dromi through a different instrument. The baglamas is also small and relatively affordable, which makes it a practical entry point into the world of rebetiko.
Undecided between the baglamas, bouzouki, and tzouras? All three share the same modal system and much of the same repertoire — the differences are in size, tuning, and tonal character. The free trial lesson is the place to talk it through.
How the lessons work
- Live one-to-one sessions via Google Meet, from anywhere in the world
- Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes — longer if we need to finish a topic
- Every lesson recorded and sent to you in full, with PDFs and audio tracks for home practice
- Flexible scheduling across multiple time zones — we find a time that works for you
- Fully personalized progression — no fixed syllabus, built around your goals and pace
- Available in English, Italian, Spanish, and Greek
FAQs about baglamas lessons
What is the Greek baglamas?
The baglamas is a small, long-necked plucked string instrument from the rebetiko tradition. It is tuned D-A-D, one octave above the three-string bouzouki, and has three courses of doubled strings. Its compact size and sharp, penetrating tone made it the instrument of choice in the underground music scene of inter-war Greece. It should not be confused with the Turkish baglama, which is a different instrument from a different musical tradition.
Do I need experience to start baglamas lessons?
No. These lessons are open to complete beginners with no prior musical experience. We start from the basics — how to hold the instrument, how to use the plectrum, how to produce clean notes — and build from there at your own pace. If you already play bouzouki, guitar, or another string instrument, you will progress faster on the technical side.
Should I learn baglamas or bouzouki first?
Either one works as a starting point. The bouzouki is the lead instrument of rebetiko and offers a wider range, so it is often the natural first choice. The baglamas is smaller, more affordable, and easier to handle physically — which makes it appealing as a first instrument. Both share the same modal system (the dromi), so the musical knowledge you gain on one transfers directly to the other. If you are unsure, we can discuss this in the free trial lesson.
What dromi will I learn on the baglamas?
The same dromi used across all rebetiko instruments: Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi, Segkiach, and others. Each dromos is explored through its scale, its characteristic melodic phrases, and its ornaments as they work specifically on the baglamas — where the short scale length and high tuning create their own expressive possibilities.
Is the baglamas the same as the Turkish baglama?
No. Despite the similar name, the Greek baglamas and the Turkish baglama are different instruments with different construction, tuning, technique, and musical traditions. The Greek baglamas is a small, bowl-backed instrument tuned D-A-D, closely related to the bouzouki and rooted in the rebetiko tradition. The Turkish baglama is a larger, flat-backed instrument with movable frets and a different tuning system, central to Turkish music. These lessons focus exclusively on the Greek baglamas.
Can I learn taximi (modal improvisation) on the baglamas?
Yes, and it is one of the most rewarding aspects of the instrument. The baglamas’s short scale and high register give taximi a distinct character — more intimate and concentrated than on the bouzouki. We work on taximi from the early stages, starting with simple modal phrases and gradually building toward free improvisation within a dromos.
Ready to start baglamas lessons?
Your first lesson is free and comes with no obligation. We meet online, I assess where you are, and together we map out a learning path that fits your goals — whether you are starting from scratch or bringing experience from the bouzouki.
Deepen your understanding
My books on Greek modal theory, folk music, and rebetiko complement these lessons directly. Many students use them as reference material between sessions.
