Greek Music & Beyond
Online Greek Tzouras Lessons
Online Greek tzouras lessons — the instrument that bridges the bouzouki and the baglamas, with the melodic reach of one and the intimacy of the other. Warm tone, rebetiko roots, and a voice equally suited to solo playing and ensemble work.
The tzouras occupies a unique position in the Greek instrument family: larger than the baglamas but smaller than the bouzouki, with a warm, balanced tone that suits both solo melodic playing and ensemble accompaniment. Historically associated with the rebetiko tradition — it was a favored instrument of Asia Minor refugees arriving in Piraeus in the 1920s — the tzouras is today played in folk, popular, and contemporary contexts as well.
These lessons draw on the same modal and technical foundations as the bouzouki and baglamas courses, adapted for the tzouras’s specific tuning, scale length, and tonal character. We cover right-hand and left-hand technique, the full system of dromi and makams, and a carefully chosen repertoire of traditional rebetiko and folk pieces. The tzouras has its own voice — brighter than the bouzouki, warmer than the baglamas — and these lessons are designed to bring it out.
What these tzouras lessons cover
- Right-hand technique — plectrum control, dynamic expression
- Left-hand technique — positions, ornamentation, and phrasing specific to the tzouras
- The dromi of rebetiko — Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi and more, as they work on the tzouras
- Traditional rebetiko and folk repertoire — pieces by Vamvakaris, Batis, Papaioannou, Tsitsanis, and others
- Taximi — modal improvisation from first principles to fluency
- The tzouras in ensemble — its melodic and rhythmic roles alongside bouzouki, baglamas, guitar, and voice
- Transitioning between bouzouki, tzouras, and baglamas — technique and tuning differences, shared modal knowledge
Who this is for
All levels are welcome. Bouzouki and baglamas players will find the transition natural — the tuning and modal system are shared, though the tzouras’s shorter scale length and different string tension require specific adjustments. Complete beginners are also welcome; the tzouras is in many ways an ideal first instrument for rebetiko, being smaller and more manageable than the bouzouki while covering the same musical territory.
The tzouras shares its modal system and much of its repertoire with the bouzouki and the baglamas. If you are undecided between the three, the free trial lesson is the place to hear the differences and choose.
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 tzouras lessons
What is the tzouras?
The tzouras is a long-necked plucked string instrument from the Greek rebetiko tradition, sized between the bouzouki and the baglamas. It typically has three courses of doubled strings, tuned D-A-D (the same as a three-string bouzouki), but with a shorter scale length that gives it a warmer tone. Like the bouzouki and baglamas, it descends from the Byzantine tabouras and the ancient pandoura.
What is the difference between the tzouras, bouzouki, and baglamas?
All three instruments belong to the same family and share the same tuning (D-A-D) and modal system. The bouzouki is the largest, with the deepest range and the most volume — it is the lead melody instrument of rebetiko. The baglamas is the smallest, tuned an octave higher, with a sharp, penetrating sound. The tzouras sits in the middle: warmer than the bouzouki, softer than the baglamas, and very well suited to both solo playing and ensemble work. The musical knowledge — dromi, taximi, repertoire — transfers directly between all three instruments.
Should I learn tzouras, bouzouki, or baglamas first?
Any of the three works as a starting point. The bouzouki is the most popular choice and has the widest range. The baglamas is the most portable and affordable. The tzouras is a natural compromise — smaller and more manageable than the bouzouki, but with enough range for serious melodic and modal work. If you are unsure, the free trial lesson is a good place to discuss which instrument fits your goals.
Do I need experience to start tzouras lessons?
No. Complete beginners are welcome. We start from the fundamentals — posture, plectrum technique, basic scales — and build from there at your pace. If you already play bouzouki, baglamas, guitar, or another string instrument, you will progress faster technically.
What dromi will I learn on the tzouras?
The same dromi used across all rebetiko instruments: Rast, Ousak, Nikriz, Chitzaz, Kiourdi, Segkiach, and others. Each dromos is explored through its scale, characteristic phrases, ornaments, and the specific way it sounds on the tzouras — where the shorter scale and warmer tone create their own expressive possibilities.
Can I play the same music on the tzouras as on the bouzouki?
Yes. The tzouras shares the same tuning (D-A-D) and the same modal system as the three-string bouzouki, so the repertoire is fully interchangeable. The main difference is in the range and the tonal color: the tzouras sounds warmer and more intimate. Everything you learn on the tzouras — dromi, taximi, repertoire — transfers directly to the bouzouki and vice versa.
Ready to start tzouras 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 — whether you are picking up the tzouras for the first time, transitioning from bouzouki or baglamas, or looking to deepen your modal knowledge on this instrument.
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.
