Greek Music & Beyond
Online Greek Bouzouki Lessons
Online Greek bouzouki lessons rooted in authentic rebetiko technique, dromi, and traditional repertoire — live one-to-one sessions from anywhere in the world.
The bouzouki is the defining voice of Greek music. From the smoky taverns of inter-war Piraeus to the stages of contemporary Athens, it carries the full emotional weight of rebetiko. These lessons go beyond chord shapes and picking patterns. We work directly with the modal system that gives rebetiko its sound: the dromi, their characteristic phrases and ornaments, their roots in Ottoman and Byzantine tradition. You will learn to play from inside the music, not just on top of it.
Whether you are picking up the bouzouki for the first time or you already play but have never studied rebetiko properly, the free trial lesson is the place to start. We assess your level together and design a learning path built around your goals.
What these bouzouki lessons cover
- Right-hand technique — plectrum angles and dynamic control
- Left-hand technique — positions, ornamentation, and finger control on the neck
- The dromi of rebetiko — Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi and more: scales, characteristic phrases, and modal movement
- Taximi — modal improvisation, from first principles to fluency
- Traditional rebetiko repertoire — carefully selected pieces by Vamvakaris, Batis, Delias, and others
- Rhythm and phrasing — chasapiko, zeibekiko, tsifteteli, syrtos and other Greek rhythms
Who this is for
You do not need any prior experience — complete beginners are welcome, even with no background on any instrument. Guitarists and other string players will find familiar technical ground and unfamiliar modal territory: both are worth exploring. More advanced musicians often seek out precisely what is rarely taught elsewhere: the dromi and modal theory.
If you are curious about the difference between three-string and four-string bouzouki, or about tuning systems and string gauges, we cover all of this in the early lessons.
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 bouzouki lessons
Do I need any musical experience to start?
No. These lessons are designed to work for complete beginners with no prior experience on any instrument. We start from the fundamentals — how to hold the bouzouki, how to use the plectrum, how to read basic notation — and build from there at your pace. If you already play guitar or another string instrument, you will progress faster on the technical side, but the modal world of rebetiko will be new territory for everyone.
What is the difference between the three-string and four-string bouzouki?
The three-string (trichordo) bouzouki is the original instrument of early rebetiko, associated with players like Markos Vamvakaris. It has three courses of doubled strings, tuned D-A-D. The four-string (tetrachordo) bouzouki, popularized from the mid-1950s by Manolis Chiotis, adds a lower course and is tuned C-F-A-D, closer to a guitar. Both are covered in these lessons. We discuss the differences early on so you can choose the instrument that suits your musical goals.
What are the dromi, and why are they so important?
The dromi (singular: dromos) are the modal scales of Greek music — comparable to the makam system of Ottoman and Arabic music. Each dromos has its own range, characteristic melodic phrases, ornaments, and emotional color. Learning the dromi is what separates surface-level bouzouki playing from authentic rebetiko musicianship. In these lessons, we work through the major dromi — Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi, Segkiach, and others — with careful attention to how each one moves and resolves.
I already play bouzouki — can I still benefit from these lessons?
Yes, and many of my students are in exactly this position. Experienced players often come because they have learned songs and technique but never received structured teaching on the dromi, taximi, or the modal logic behind the music. If you can play songs but feel lost when asked to improvise over a dromos, or if you want to understand the theory behind what your fingers already know, these lessons will fill those gaps.
Ready to start bouzouki 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 that means starting from zero or diving straight into taximi and modal theory.
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.
